Make the institution and its nobility work for patients, not the other way around

More and more patients are forced to seek charitable donations from their fellow citizens to pay for medicines and other health technologies. Is anyone else embarrassed that the citizens of a very wealthy country are forced to solicit donations because their government might favour securing a 'good deal' over their lives?

A sprawling institutional structure has been created in the 38 years since the parliament legislated the framework that explicitly excluded patients from PBS decision-making. It took 11 years to add one consumer representative and another 17 years to add a second. It is the definition of an afterthought, but why would anyone be surprised?

The simple use of HTA can not be an excuse for delays. Many countries using HTA deliver faster-funded access to medicine and other health technologies. Australia's issue is that its statutory framework for applying HTA to the PBS, which has been extended or used as the policy basis for other programs, was designed and intended to cause delays.

A lone senator was drowned out by their parliamentary colleagues, who, in their own words, revealed a disturbing view of patients as nothing more than a burden on the budget. One said patients should 'stare down' their condition. Another suggested tricking them into thinking they were taking prescription medicines.

Xiomara Sandoval, the chief financial officer of Boehringer Ingelheim Australia and New Zealand, said, “This certification shows we're leading the way in sustainable office design and creating a space that's not only welcoming but also inspiring for all our wonderful colleagues in New Zealand."

A government review's six-year-old recommendations led to the decision to fund an unapproved and unapprovable product over an approved medicine. The document is the first in a series that ended with an unprecedented workaround on patient safety and confirms the truism that 'everything happens for a reason'.

Several companies have welcomed recommendations from November's Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee meeting.

“As climate-related disasters increase, our role is of heightened importance in reaching impacted communities during emergencies such as cyclone, flood or bushfire," said NPSA Chair Richard Vincent

One of the first things a newly-appointed health minister does is delegate their vast legislated decision-makers to officials in their department.

The US FDA has approved Mesoblast's Ryoncil (remestemcel-L-rknd) for treating steroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease (SR-aGVHD) in pediatric patients 2 months and older.

It is a decision that has 'broken the seal' on a long-held principle that has indisputably contributed to Australians having high public confidence in the health technologies they are administered. It is an awful decision because when the Government funds a health technology, the community makes certain assumptions that are now at risk.

Besides seriously undermining one of the world's most highly regarded regulatory agencies, stakeholders should consider the logical extension of this decision, not least for patient safety and public confidence in the health system.

The scientists behind Australia’s first locally developed mRNA COVID-19 vaccine candidate have published a preclinical study demonstrating the vaccine's potential to overcome the issue of ‘immune imprinting.’

The Albanese Government says it has provided $2.5 billion for new and amended listings on the PBS since the 2024-25 Budget with higher payments to the program partially driven by higher prescription volumes.

It is personal for Dr Andrea Smith, who was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer nine years ago. She is working on research, projects and programs to raise awareness and support for women living with what she describes as a '12-month timeframe'.

The Australian National Audit Office has tabled its performance audit of the administration of the PBS, describing it as "partly effective" with changes coming in how the health department engages stakeholders and governance arrangements for the PBAC.

According to the Auditor General, "In 2021, Health (Department of Health and Aged Care) estimated that 640,000 patients become eligible for the Safety Net each year but do not apply, foregoing $100 million in medicine subsidies."

“Christmas can be particularly challenging for people with gout,” said Jonathan Smithers, the CEO of Arthritis Australia. “Misconceptions about the condition and its triggers often lead to anxiety around festive meals. This new resource hub provides practical advice to help individuals enjoy the season without compromising their health.”

The document confirms that Health Minister Mark Butler will direct its prioritisation of the HTA Review's 50 recommendations. "The Minister will provide to the IAG an initial list of recommendations from the HTA Review for priority consideration and may direct the IAG on its work plan from time to time," it says.