Will the new PBS campaign pressure the government to act?

Pharma News: The medicines industry is ramping up its campaign to slash delays in patient access to new and innovative treatments.

Industry leaders are calling for a 60-day timeframe for Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) listings following the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) registration for all new medicines.

However, the recent Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Review report proposed different timelines that, while improved, fall short of the industry’s optimistic goal. The report suggested that more than 90% of medicines proving superiority should be listed on the PBS within 6 to 12 months of ARTG registration.

This has propelled the Stronger PBS campaign into its next phase, launching today to spotlight Australia’s troubling status as “the world’s biggest waiting room.” As part of the campaign, consumers are urged to pledge their support to cut PBS wait times from a current average of 466 days to a targeted 60 days.

A recent report comparing global access to new medicines launched over the past decade paints a concerning picture for Australia. In the Asia-Pacific region, only 20% of new medicines are available, compared to the 85% available in the United States, with Germany (61%) and the UK (59%) trailing behind. Japan leads in the region with 51%, while Taiwan (38%) and Australia (34%) remain below the OECD average of 41%. New Zealand trails the pack, coming in last with only 16% of new medicines accessible to patients.

Furthermore, Australia lags in the speed of new medicine launches, with only 12% of new treatments becoming available within one year of their global debut.

“As Australians, we love our PBS, but many people don’t realise there are long delays from the time a medicine is registered by the TGA to when it is listed on the PBS because of a reimbursement system that has not kept pace with medical advances,” said Medicines Australia CEO Liz de Somer.

“The recently released HTA Review found the system is overly complex, and patients experience profound negative consequences waiting to access new treatments. Now we need to get on with fixing it.”

In a bold visual statement, artwork depicting a crowded waiting room has been installed at a prominent bus stop on Enmore Road, Marrickville. The location serves as a focal point for members of patient advocacy groups to generate content and amplify the campaign’s message across their networks. Alongside this, advertisements will roll out across mainstream media in the coming weeks, with a parallel campaign targeting clinicians.

“We are now asking everyone to pledge support to cut wait times to access new medicines on the PBS to 60 days and to invite family and friends to do the same,” de Somer continued.

“These delays are simply too long, and people are dying waiting,” de Somer stressed. “We want to see wait times cut from 466 days to 60 days. This is absolutely achievable and would put Australia on track to having the world’s best health system.”

With the election on the horizon, the Labor government is also focussing on other essential healthcare reforms, including the viability of the private hospital sector, the National Health Reform Agreement (NHRA) Addendum, and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

With respect to the pharmaceuticals sector, policymakers can enable faster access to life-saving treatments by enforcing strong intellectual property rights, adopting harmonised regulatory reviews, and implementing transparent reimbursement policies that reward innovation.

To join the call for change, pledge your support to cut PBS wait times to 60 days.

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