Shadow Health Minister Senator Anne Ruston has challenged health department officials after the publication of a PBAC meeting agenda contradicted the evidence they gave at yesterday's Senate Estimates hearing.
In response to questions about paediatric access to biologic medicines for Crohn's disease at yesterday's hearing, officials said the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee would consider the issue at its meeting next week.
According to one senior official, "There's been two changes to the way in which restrictions are managed for these therapies in the past year, and indeed we're anticipating that at the meeting that PBAC will have on the 10th of December, it's on the agenda again, the outcomes of the deliberations that happen on the 10th of December will be published on the 30th of January, and so at that point we can anticipate further updates."
The committee's agenda was published late today, and the issue is not included.
In response, Senator Ruston said, "It is critical that Australians and particularly Australian children living with Crohn's disease have timely and affordable access to the treatments that could change their life. It is unconscionable that the Department was either deliberately misleading or did not have the correct information on when this important issue will be considered and an update delivered for those affected like Sarah and her son."
