Forget about experts and terms of reference until we get a transparent process

Another week of consternation about the health technology assessment review and some questions from the audience, including one that challenges the exclusion of people from the consultation process but another that doubts there was any alternative.

Former health department secretary Glenys Beauchamp AO PSM says the government should speak directly to the public about policy ahead of peak bodies and be more open and transparent in its decision-making.

Recognition for a former health department leader, other officials and pharmacists in this year's Australia Day Honours List.

There appears to be confusion and even inconsistency in the Department of Health and Aged Care about the role of a probity adviser.

The federal government is planning significant changes in the supply of significant products for diabetes, including a tender for a recently funded health technology.

The will be set against the backdrop of ongoing policy engagement by major health sectors, including the health technology assessment review, the proposed reform of the Prostheses List and now the introduction of tenders for advanced medical technologies.

Better Access Australia has challenged the approach to consultation and draft terms of reference it describes as lacking a focus on patients and acquiescent to the status quo.

A leading New Zealand patient advocate has fled the country for Australia in a move she describes as becoming a 'medical refugee'.

According to CEO and managing director Rick Ratliff, “Our strong performance in the reporting period was underpinned by our growing scale in Australia and the US, and reflects the increased uptake of our digital solutions for medication adherence."

The welcome publication of documents has only raised more critical questions, including on the apparent conflict allowing the health department's blatant manipulation of the entire review process.

Medicines Australia has used its submission in response to the draft terms of reference for the health technology assessment review to double down and detail its public criticism of the process.

One of the more remarkable critiques is from the HTA Consumer Consultative Committee/Consumer Evidence and Engagement Unit, which effectively sits within the Department of Health and Aged Care.

Takeda's seventh consecutive recognition from the Top Employers Institute is the most of any life sciences company in Australia.

Research led by Omico, the Garvan Institute of Medical Research and UNSW Sydney has generated the first comprehensive genetic map of sarcomas.

The industry is losing because its approach to the process is wrong. It has been warned of this reality - publicly and privately - and so far chosen to proceed in a way that will only produce an irredeemably lousy outcome.

The year starts with another controversy, this time over the draft terms of reference for the health technology assessment review. We discuss why nobody should be surprised and respond to questions from the audience about a potential solution and why confidentiality requirements are not a feature of other major reviews in health.

Vaxxas and CEPI have signed a partnership agreement to advance the development of the Australian company’s needle-free vaccine-patch delivery technology.

Specialised Therapeutics Asia has announced that its therapy to treat rare gastrointestinal stromal tumours, QINLOCK (ripretinib), has been approved for use in New Zealand and will now be considered for funding by Pharmac.

New Zealand's Pharmac proposes funding a second treatment for Spinal Muscular Atrophy after launching a consultation on Roche's EVRYSDI (risdiplam).