Comment

The facility, the largest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, is part of the company's $2 billion-plus capital investment currently underway in Australia.

Companies with positive PBAC recommendations from November are already dealing with the indirect consequences of next April and it is just one of the challenges facing pharmaceutical, medical device and diagnostic companies as we look forward to 2023.

Yesterday was another step forward in the renaissance of Australian biomedical manufacturing with the official opening CSL's new plasma fractionation facility and the start of construction of Moderna's mRNA vaccine production site.

Catholic Health Australia has called for reform of the annual process for approving private health insurance premiums.

The AMA says new data shows public hospital performance is at a record low with patients waiting longer for treatment.

New Zealand's controversial medicines purchasing agency Pharmac will be investigated by the country's Ombudsman over its handling of information requests.

In the second part of the series on the 52-year legacy and contribution of GSK Boronia, human resource site lead Michelle Strong discusses the company's journey following confirmation of its decision to exit the manufacturing site.

New Zealand's Today FM and the Mediaworks network are not relenting in their criticism of Pharmac. They have now challenged Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern over her claims regarding the actions of the controversial medicines agency.

"I am not sure that is the same for reimbursement agencies (and PBAC) and patients and clinicians," said Professor Andrew Wilson, adding, "And purpose defines what you want to do with the information. You need an effector arm that can respond to the information."

Processes like horizon scanning and the HTA review will quickly descend into an obscurantist discussion on technical inputs without clear direction from health minister Mark Butler on what specific outcomes the government wants.

New Zealand's controversial medicines purchasing agency has surely reached a new low with its decision to ban engagement with one media organisation simply because it did its job.