Health Technology Access
It is time to #MindTheGap in health technology access. Better Access Australia is focussed on addressing the increasing gaps in health technology access.
Health technology is an expanding field with exciting possibilities to transform the lives of Australians.
Patients are increasingly missing out on timely access to existing, new and novel treatments.
Australians are waiting an average of 820 days for a medicine to be subsidised by the government after it has been registered for use in Australia by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).
This average is based on a spread of 59 to 6513 days. No one should have to wait so long for access to medicine that has been deemed safe and effective for use.
Innovations in health technology need quicker approval processes particularly for the treatment of rare diseases and conditions where there is high and unmet clinical need.
Patients should not suffer and languish in waiting for life-saving and life-affirming medical solutions.
Australian patients should not suffer whilst the system is beleaguered by inefficient processes and resistance to innovation.
Better Access Australia wants to ensure debate about access to these services in Australia considers all perspectives, not just the loudest or usual “go-to” representatives. We want public debate and patient and community-centric decision making.
We are particularly focussed on the treatment of rare diseases and conditions where there is high and unmet clinical need.
Delays in access to new technologies, however, is not the exclusive remit of rare diseases, but is a growing burden for the broader community as programs such as the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) see lengthy and unacceptable delays in access to new treatments for chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, migraine, eczema and psoriasis. New access in these chronic disease areas seem to be a greater challenge to the health system than the incremental access to common and rare cancers.
Target: 100 Days
We must strive towards consumer access within 100 days from TGA registration.
Waiting an average of 820 days for a medicine to be subsidised following registration is too long.
COVID-19 has shown us what is possible in speeding up processes for access to health technology. The system must confront the reality of patients and consumer waiting times for access.
Further information:
Our questions for the Zimmerman Inquiry
The House of Representative Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Sport has launched an inquiry to investigate approval processes for new drugs and novel medical technologies in Australia.
Why is it acceptable for Australia to fall behind the rest of the world in regard to access to genetic testing? We were world leaders in organ transplants but we can’t keep up with access to what is quickly becoming standard technology?
Why do we consider it acceptable for small patient groups to wait three years for access to a process for newborn screening for fatal but treatable diseases only to be told no?
Why should Australian consumers not be able to expect access to all new medicines, treatments and technologies within 100 days from TGA registration?
Case Study: Germany and drug price negotiation
Germany attempts to ensure almost immediate access to treatments once registered for safe and efficacious use by its regulator.
There is an emphasis on quick and timely price negotiation that could model a more efficient system in Australia.
The Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (or IQWIG) provides these efficient timeframes for consumer access whilst evaluation clinical benefit and ensuring value for money.
We need a solution to the current process in Australia which is driving multiple months if not years of waiting to reach a certain pricing point.
Learn more about approval processes and price negotiation in Germany here.
Sustained impact of health and productivity:
Chronic disease has a sustained impact on the productivity and workforce participation of potentially millions in Australia.
Poor health leads to lower participation in the labour force and higher levels of unemployment.
People in poorer health tend to work fewer hours than those in fair and good (or better) health.
Chronic disease management has a profound impact on productivity in Australia. Investment in our health system is an investment in Australia’s productivity.