Senators fire sharp criticism at Labor Government inertia on HTA Review

The chorus of frustration over delays in implementing the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Review recommendations is growing louder. Senator Anne Ruston, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care, Senator Wendy Askew, Liberal Senator for Tasmania, and Senator Jordon Steele-John, Greens Senator for Western Australia, have criticised the government’s glacial pace on reform.

On the Cheaper Medicines Bill, Senator Ruston argued the government is making it harder than ever to list medicines on the PBS, even after PBAC approval.

“Like the capping of the number of medicines to be considered by PBAC, this is another backdoor way that the government is avoiding listing medicines on the PBS,” she said, pointing to what critics describe as regulatory smoke screens.

Addressing delays in the HTA Review reforms, Senator Ruston warned, “We say to the government that the time for reviewing things is over. The time for action is now. Patients are sick of waiting. The opposition is sick of waiting because this government is sitting on its hands when it comes to actually letting Australians get access to cheaper medicines.”

Senator Askew added her voice to the criticism, saying “Australians deserve better. They deserve a government that acts, not one that reviews endlessly and delays progress. The HTA review, for example, which was commissioned by the Coalition, remains untouched. We know the challenges, we have the data and we’ve heard the voices of patients. Now is the time for actions.”

Greens Senator Steele-John highlighted the human cost of delay. He said, “The HTA review has made it clear that we need to and in fact can speed up the process of approvals and access to the PBS, especially for the groups that need it most, like children and First Nations communities. That final report was released in September. Since then, there has been no action.”

With Medicines Australia’s PharmAus meeting scheduled for Wednesday, the sector is watching for signs that Federal Health Minister Mark Butler will move beyond rhetoric.

The peak industry body is pressing the government to move on the “low-hanging fruit” from the HTA Review – recommendations that are more straightforward and cost-effective to implement. It is calling for interim funding in the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) to jumpstart reform, while urging the Labor government to develop a comprehensive policy package ahead of the next federal budget.

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