TGA on hunt for GPs to sit on evaluation panel

The TGA is calling for GPs to apply for paid positions on its new Therapeutic Goods Evaluation Panel

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The TGA is calling for GPs to apply for paid positions on its new Therapeutic Goods Evaluation Panel.

Dr Jane Cook, the head post-market surveillance at the TGA, made the pitch to GPs at the recent GP17 RACGP conference.

The TGA was seeking “suitably qualified and experienced individuals and organisations with expertise in various scientific and medical fields”, she said.

The TGA evaluates approximately 40 new medicines and 45 new indications per year.

Successful applicants would assist with this process, as well as other regulatory functions, such as post-market monitoring activities, a TGA spokeswoman said.

Panellists would begin a three-year term on 1 July next year.

“During this period, panelists will be invited to tender for evaluation work that is not internally allocated,” the TGA spokeswoman said.

Panellists would review and critically evaluate the quality, safety and efficacy data on medicines, as submitted by pharmaceutical companies.

These evaluation reports would be submitted in written form, following a format prescribed by the TGA.Specialists and academics, including GPs with medicine evaluation experience or additional qualifications, were encouraged to apply via the Australian government website (http://bit.ly/2iEKSYU).

“The expertise requested … includes clinical evaluation work of new medicines and indications in multiple therapeutic areas, drug safety, pharmacokinetics, statistics, toxicology, pharmaceutical chemistry, and quality aspects,” the TGA spokeswoman said.

The tender process began in mid-October and will close on 31 January next year.