FAQs

Why should Australia invest in new medicines?

For all Australians, access to the right medicine – the very best medicine – at the right time is vital. Without it, diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes can progress, quality of life suffers, and lives may be lost.

New treatment options not only keep people healthier for longer, they also take pressure off our Medicare system and our hospitals. For example, in 2019, the use of medication, and a reduction in hospital use, saved our hospital system $5.97 billion.¹

With our health system currently under significant stress, we need the best treatments to keep Australians healthy, out of hospital, and take pressure off Medicare.

Do Australians have a say in what medicines should be available?

The Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) includes a consumer representative to ensure the experience and expectations of patients inform the assessment process.

Additionally, Australians can provide views about any medicine being considered by making a submission through the Office of Health Technology - Citizen Space.

How long does it take for a medicine to become available in Australia?

As a nation, we often wait three to four times longer to access medicines when compared to people in similar countries. It often takes over a year for safe and effective medicines to be made available for patients through the PBS. Many though aren’t brought to Australia at all.

How much faster could access be?

Similar countries to Australia can provide access to new medicines for their community in as few as 90 days.

Would faster access compromise the safety of new medicines?

No. In Australia, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is responsible for assessing, approving, and monitoring medicines. This will not change.

What we need to change is the time it takes to evaluate and fund new medicines after they have been approved by the TGA.

What is the Australian Government doing to make this process faster?

The Australian Government has committed to an Independent Review of the evaluation systems that we use to recommend the medicines we should fund. This process hasn’t been comprehensively reviewed in over 30 years and is struggling to keep up with advances in technology.

This means your doctor isn’t always able to prescribe the medicine you need.

This Review is currently underway and is our opportunity to ensure Australians have faster access to the best medicines when we need them.

To deliver medicines faster, do we need to invest more in the PBS?

Australia is currently reviewing the system we use to evaluate and recommend the medicines we should fund. This process hasn’t been comprehensively reviewed in over 30 years and is struggling to keep up with advances in technology.

Important reforms with further government investment in the PBS will ensure Australians will have faster access to the best medicines when we need it.

Investing in faster, more efficient access to new medicines will not only keep Australians healthier for longer, it can also take pressure off our Medicare system and our hospitals.

Who is behind the StrongerPBS campaign, and why is this important?

The Stronger PBS campaign has been developed by Medicines Australia.

Medicines Australia advocates for better health through research and innovation, and represents the research-based pharmaceutical industry in Australia.

How medicines are assessed for inclusion on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) has not kept pace with advances in research and innovation.

The PBS exists to ensure all Australians can afford the best treatments, but how medicines are assessed for inclusion in the PBS has not been comprehensively reviewed in over 30 years.

We are not advocating to reduce the time for approvals. We want to reduce the wait time once new medicines have been approved. 

How can I get involved in the Stronger PBS Campaign?

There are several ways you can support the Stronger PBS Campaign:

References:

  1. Lichtenberg 2023, The Effect of New Medicines Provided by the PBS on Mortality and Hospital Utilisation in Australia, 2002-2019