Unveiling patient-centric reforms: BMS whitepaper launch welcomed by Rare Cancers Australia and Deputy Chair of PBAC

Pharma News: Today marks a significant milestone in the pursuit of patient-centric reform in Australia’s healthcare landscape with the launch of Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) Australia’s whitepaper: Bringing Patient Centricity to Life. The launch builds upon the annual Shaping Healthcare Together Roundtable held in November 2022, which brought together influential stakeholders, including 20 patient organisations and government representatives.

The timing of the whitepaper launch is proving opportune, as recent key events have underscored the importance of reform. The Federal Government has initiated an independent review of the country’s Health Technology Assessment (HTA) system – the first review in nearly three decades. Additionally, strategic agreements between the Commonwealth and the medicines industry, as well as heightened awareness of the efficiency of approval processes for medicines and vaccines during the pandemic, created a unique environment for stakeholder engagement.

Hayley Anderson, Head of Patient Advocacy and Policy at BMS, stressed the need for continuous improvement to keep pace with rapidly advancing scientific developments and the growing demand for consumer engagement. Delving deep into the concept of patient-centric system reform throughout the HTA phase, the whitepaper shares valuable insights while highlighting opportunities for reform.

The ten recommendations put forth in the whitepaper cover a wide spectrum, ranging from broad-scale system reforms to practical steps for improving processes and practices. By prioritising consumer engagement, value-based decision-making, and timely access to medicines, the whitepaper lays the foundation for a reimagined healthcare system that places patients at its core. The central themes explored in the whitepaper revolve around effective and meaningful consumer engagement, broader value considerations, and the speed of access to medicines.

Katrina Lapham from Biointelect emphasised the focus on reforming access to medicines throughout the entire lifecycle – from development to delivery. While acknowledging that access encompasses more than just the approval process, the attention has currently been directed toward the HTA processes, making it an opportune time to leverage ongoing initiatives and reforms.

One of the key recommendations from the whitepaper calls for the establishment of a single digital platform or front door that provides clear and transparent information on the approval status of medicines. This platform would consolidate data from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and the PBAC (Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee) health technology assessment process, enabling organisations and patients to access comprehensive and up-to-date information easily.

Another recommendation focusses on empowering health consumer organisations (HCOs) to make compelling and informed contributions at every stage of the medicine’s lifecycle. There is a need for clearer guidance, educational resources, and more accessible submission forms tailored to facilitate cohort organisational submissions. Additionally, the recommendation emphasises the importance of proactively sharing plain language summaries of medicines’ benefits and risks to enhance consumer understanding and enable their meaningful participation.

Under broader value considerations, the whitepaper highlights the need for leveraging international knowledge and best practices, facilitating earlier and more adaptable engagement from patient organisations and clinicians. The paper also highlights the significance of improving horizon scanning, which calls for the establishment of a formal system to anticipate and plan for the introduction of new medicines in the Australian environment.

The speed of access to medicines takes centre stage, with a key recommendation urging the implementation of an early access program while ensuring ongoing monitoring and evaluation of safety and effectiveness.

Richard Vines, Chair of Rare Cancers Australia, emphasised the importance of patient centricity in healthcare. He argued that patients are not merely recipients of medical services but active participants in society, contributing through taxes and forming the backbone of a functioning healthcare system.
Patients, government, industry, and clinicians form the foundation of the healthcare system and each group has responsibilities. As citizens, patients have the right to a responsive and high-quality healthcare system.

Mr Vines stressed the obligation of clinicians to fully inform and involve patients in their care. He also called on the industry to prioritise patient-centric approaches and urged government to actively seek solutions for patients in need. He rejected the notion of placing the burden of understanding healthcare systems on patients and emphasised the need to build trust and flexibility between industry and government. He concluded by urging consumers to actively participate in shaping a healthcare system that reflects their values and meets their needs.

“We can’t be passive. We have to be up working, knowing that if we just sit there, nothing’s going to happen. Today should be a call to action to make sure that we as citizens of this country get the kind of treatment we deserve,” he said.

Joe Watson, Deputy Chair of PBAC, reflected on the past decade in healthcare policy and identified ongoing opportunities and challenges. She acknowledged the numerous reviews and policy developments that have shaped the landscape, emphasising the complexity of the healthcare system. Ms Watson highlighted government commitments, ongoing debates, and reform efforts across the health system. She noted the significance of strategic positioning and collective advocacy to voice priorities effectively. While opportunities arise, challenges exist in identifying platforms for change and navigating national arrangements and commercial realities. Ms Watson discussed the importance of evidence-based decision-making, effective consumer engagement, multidisciplinary collaborations, and improved transparency in value considerations.

“These developments are part of that never-ending story,” she said. “We want collaboration and energetic focus, and we want to get somewhere that really is meaningful for patients who are counting on it.”

Leah Goodman, Managing Director of BMSA, expressed the company’s commitment to actively shaping the environment for delivering transformational medicines to Australian patients.

She said “Over the past five years, BMSA has collaborated with Health Consumer Organisations (HCOs) to pursue shared objectives in system reform, primarily through the Broadening the Evidence project. BMSA remains dedicated to initiatives that bolster the involvement of consumers and patients in healthcare decision-making and health policy with the aim to empower consumers and enhance their involvement in approval processes and access to medicines.”

Today’s launch of the BMS whitepaper serves as a call to action for stakeholders to address the urgent need for transformative change. The recommendations put forth in the whitepaper emphasise the importance of amplifying the voice of patients, fostering transparency in decision-making, and prioritising timely access to innovative therapies.

In reimagining healthcare across the entire patient journey, Health Industry Hub^TM is the only one-stop-hub bringing the diversity of Pharma, MedTech, Diagnostics & Biotech sectors together to inspire meaningful change.

The content on Health Industry Hub is copyright protected and should only be accessed under individual user licenses. To subscribe, please click here and visit T&Cs here.