Access to Medicines Working Group - 4 March 2019
Page last updated: 28 May 2019
The Access to Medicines Working Group (AMWG) met in Canberra on 4 March 2019. Attendees included representatives from Medicines Australia (MA), the pharmaceutical industry and the Department of Health.
AMWG members endorsed the outcomes and actions of the November 2018 meeting.
It was acknowledged that substantial work had been undertaken by the various AMWG subgroups.
The AMWG noted that the Streamlined Pathways subgroup was continuing to meet every three weeks to progress Stage 1 improvements to PBS processes in preparation for implementation from July 2019. The AMWG agreed to provide the Minister for Health with an update on consultation outcomes and a revised implementation plan in March 2019. This was provided to the Minister for Health on 5 March 2019.
The AMWG also noted the update on PBS cost recovery following industry information sessions in Sydney and Melbourne on 31 January and 1 February 2019. Public consultation on the Cost Recovery Implementation Statement (CRIS) occurred from 1-17 February 2019. Feedback on the CRIS has been incorporated where possible.
The AMWG agreed further work by the dedicated subgroup is needed on the issue of comparator selection.
AMWG subgroup scopes will be updated to reflect changes in membership and clarification of subgroup activities. Revised scopes will be considered by each of the subgroups in the first quarter of 2019 before endorsement is sought by the AMWG.
The AMWG will reconvene in September 2019.
