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Utilisation analysis of PBS-listed medicines for heart failure

Page last updated: 20 December 2024

Consistent with the 2024 PMR Framework, the PBAC may request preliminary research on an issue to inform its consideration of whether a potential Post-market Review is required.

In January 2023, the PBAC Executive noted that PBS expenditure for medicines used for the treatment of heart failure exceeded $154 million in 2021, according to Services Australia Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) statistics for prescriptions processed in this period. The PBAC Executive requested that a utilisation analysis be undertaken of PBS-listed medicines for heart failure to improve understanding of contemporary medicine treatment patterns in Australian patients, including switching between medicines, combination treatment and add-on therapy.

The Department commissioned a utilisation analysis of PBS-listed heart failure medicines to be undertaken and presented in a report for consideration by the PBAC and its Drug Utilisation Sub-Committee (DUSC). Sponsors of PBS-listed heart failure medicines were invited to provide comment on the report in a pre-sub-committee response in May 2024, as well as comment on DUSC advice in a pre-PBAC response in August 2024.

A copy of the report is available below:

The report was considered by DUSC at its June 2024 meeting and by the PBAC at its September 2024 intracycle meeting. The PBAC considered the utilisation analysis of PBS-listed medicines for heart failure, advice from DUSC, and sponsor comments received through the pre-sub-committee and pre-PBAC responses. The PBAC considered that a Post-market Review of heart failure medicines is premature at this time, given the recency of changes to clinical guidelines for the management of heart failure and the addition of several medications to the market.

Further information on the outcome of PBAC’s consideration of the report is available at: