Comment

If Australia was starting from scratch and constructing a system based on today's technologies, would it look like the one we have today?

Decision-making on medicines is now subject to a terrible inequity under which rationed access is masked by ridiculous euphemisms like 'value' and 'affordability'.

One emerging feature of the public and not-so-public policy discussion in advance of the formation of the National Medicines Policy working group is emerging stakeholder alignment that Australia's evaluation processes will need to be reformed for cell and gene therapies.

The Australian research-based industry appears set on being a small target ahead of next year's Budget but what does it risk giving away in the process?

Would the policy have been scrapped if the PBAC had been prioritising its recommendations - which, to be clear, is what it is now doing?

If a government's acceptance of the 'conditionality' of PBAC recommendations becomes fact today, which it will unless corrected, what will be the consequences under Mr Hunt's successors? 

The federal government now claims it is bound by the 'conditions' contained in a PBAC recommendation - the Department of Health's written advice to the health minister does not really say that.

It seems an overstatement to suggest the PBAC is 'bullying' companies to accept its recommendations but the committee does have a history when it comes to chronic migraine.

Some might argue the issue is semantic - the government accepts the PBAC's advice so practically they act as conditional recommendations - however, the change represents a significant formal shift of power over PBS decision-making to the committee and there will be implications.

There are few stakeholder groups easier to demonise than the pharmaceutical industry and the debate over listing the PBAC's recommendations represents a significant reputational risk.

The PBS has undergone a remarkable structural transformation since 2010 with growth in spending on the program significantly constrained by a combination of savings measures and a profound change...

Health minister Greg Hunt is unlikely to lose too much sleep over an article that appeared in News Corp publications yesterday claiming to reveal a "secret list of medicines" recommended but not reimbursed through the PBS.