No probity advisor but what about a form of confidentiality deed?

We return in 2025 with a discussion about our recently published special series on achieving change, arguing for it in a system that treats patients as servile to the government's focus on securing the best deal for itself, moral hazards, and bad excuses.

The release of Cabinet records from 2004 has revealed significant information on the PBS with policy discussions and decisions taken on the program that reverberate in 2025.

Vaxxas CEO David Hoey said, “Our HD-MAP technology offers a potential solution to the growing need to significantly expand global access to innovative mRNA vaccines by eliminating the current ultra-cold storage requirements for these vaccines."

The company said candidates like S-892216 could "address a gap" for pre-exposure prophylaxis therapeutics that have the potential to protect against severe outcomes of COVID-19.

New Zealand's Pharmac is encouraging people to contribute to its consultation process on proposals to six more medicines and switch patients to another brand of one medicine.

LTR Pharma chair Lee Rodne said, "Partnering with Symbion is a pivotal step in building our commercial infrastructure. Symbion’s extensive distribution network and expertise will ensure seamless access to SPONTAN across Australia."

We argue that the long-term focus on HTA's technical inputs and related processes has failed because it implicitly endorses the state's framework. It misses the importance of making a philosophical case against a system whose primary flaw is that patients are servile to the state's economic interests.

The US Department of Health and Human Services has announced the next 15 medicines subject to its new price negotiation power in one of the final acts of the outgoing Biden Administration.

"We believe that by fostering a positive work environment, we can continue to drive innovation and deliver exceptional care to patients across Australia and New Zealand,” said David Pearce, the general manager of Takeda Oceania.

Vaxxas CEO David Hoey said, “We're honoured to have our world-leading microarray patch technology chosen to be part of this important BARDA-led public health initiative to accelerate new vaccine technologies."

Boehringer Ingelheim has announced the appointment of its new general manager of its growing business in Australia and New Zealand.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced the change in the health portfolio as part of a wider reshuffle he described as a refresh.

“This is a huge milestone to help protect infants from RSV and will provide long-awaited support for many Australian families," said the founding director of the Immunisation Foundation of Australia, Catherine Hughes AM.

In the final of this week's special series, the question is whether stakeholders will accept the status quo or demand changes that compel Australia's HTA institution to work for patients.

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'.