Chance to slash wait times for new treatments by 16 months

Assuming the government adopts and implements the 50 recommendations made by the HTA review substantial improvements are afoot.

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Waiting times for new medical treatments could be slashed from 22 months to “within six months” if the government acts positively on 50 recommendations by the Health Technology Assessment review, released earlier this month by the Department of Health and Aged Care.

The HTA review came after Australia’s process for approving new medicines and technologies was criticised as being too lengthy, burdened by red tape and lacking consumer engagement.

The review, led by independent chair Adjunct Professor Debora Picone, was “a collaborative effort” including patient groups, industry representatives, clinicians and government bodies.

“By its nature … some of the recommendations in this review relate to complex systems issues,” said Professor Picone.

“However, implementing them as a package over the short, medium and long terms … will provide direct benefits for Australian citizens, consumers and patients.”

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One of those benefits would be substantial reduction in medicine approval times, she said.

“If submissions to the TGA and the PBAC for product registration and listing were considered in parallel using an effective process, 90% of products demonstrating superiority could be PBS-listed within six months of TGA registration,” wrote Professor Picone.

“This is a substantial decrease compared to the current median time frame of 22 months.”

Additionally, if the review’s recommendations were accepted and implemented, vaccines and life-saving medicines for people with ultra-rare diseases could be subsidised faster – in 18-22 weeks and four weeks respectively.

Federal health minister Mark Butler committed the government to establishing an implementation group to guide the HTA reform process and provide regular updates to government. The independent group would be led by an “eminent Australian” and would include representation from the Commonwealth and state and territory governments, as well as industry, consumers and clinicians, and a health economist.

“The HTA Review Report is farsighted enough to be visionary, while being firmly grounded in the practicalities of the here and now,” said Mr Butler.

“The goal is faster access to the best therapies, at a cost that patients and the community can afford. Value for money remains paramount, because value is at the heart of patient benefit.

“With health technologies, the opportunity cost of a dollar spent needlessly or on the wrong therapy is enormous. It isn’t measured in dollars and cents, but in months and years, and time lost with loved ones.

“Good reform must be jointly owned. Landing it will take time and the collective effort of governments, experts, patients and industry.”

Reaction to the review’s recommendations from the sector was largely positive.

Medicines Australia, whose CEO Liz de Stomer was an industry representative on the review’s reference committee, said the recommendations would make “a significant difference”.

“The recommendations reflect what has been the most comprehensive review of Australia’s HTA in more than 30 years,” she said.

“The input from stakeholders has been tremendous and provided a clear picture of where improvement is needed.

“Without these changes Australians will continue to miss out on the best medicines available now and the revolutionary treatments that are on the horizon.

“System-wide reform will deliver a stronger PBS for all Australians.”

Also released with the HTA review report was the government’s “Enhance HTA Report”, which delivers 10 recommendations to “elevate the consumer and patient voice” in the health technology assessment processes.

The recommendations in the companion Enhance HTA Report were co-designed by a multi-stakeholder consumer-led working group representing patients and consumer organisations, the industry and government.

The full Enhance HTA: An Enhanced Consumer Engagement Process in Australian Health Technology Assessment report can be read here.