Investments in Australia’s health squarely on election agenda
25 March 2025: Medicines Australia welcomes today’s announcements by the Government that increase the investment in the health of our nation. Similarly, we acknowledge the Opposition’s matching of these announcements in recognition of the need for additional investment in health.
“Strengthening Medicare, investments in precision medicines, onshore manufacturing of IV fluids and assisting Australians to access healthcare as they juggle cost of living pressures through initiatives including a reduced co-payment for access to medicines on the PBS is very welcome,” said Liz de Somer, CEO of Medicines Australia.
“We are pleased with the Government’s commitment of $1.8 billion to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and the listing of new medicines within this budget.
“Securing more choice for Australian women with new and amended listings for contraception, endometriosis and IVF on the PBS and the overall $793 million investment in women’s health is particularly welcomed as so many Australian women have had to wait for access to the latest medicines due to a system that is in dire need of reform,” added Liz de Somer.
The substantial commitment to Medicare of $8.5 billion to support bulk billing and to build health workforce through incentives for GPs, nurses and midwives to train and to add 50 Medicare urgent care clinics are extremely important measures.
Alongside this investment in the delivery of healthcare must be a commitment to support a stronger PBS and timely access to medicines. However, Australia’s Health Technology Assessment System that reviews medicines for cost effectiveness and inclusion on the PBS has not been comprehensively reviewed in over 30 years and as Minister Butler says, it is “clunky” and needs reform.
Patient organisations, clinicians, industry, government and the Federal Opposition all support HTA reform and the focus of the next Federal Budget must now be implementation.
“It should not take on average 466 days after a new medicine has been found to be safe and effective by the Therapeutic Goods Administration for it to reach patients. While we welcome the increased investment in health in this budget, these investments need to be complimented by reforms to the PBS.
“HTA reform must be the focus of the next Health budget, so Australians get access to the best medicines when they need them. The PBS is a critical part of Medicare. A stronger Medicare needs a #strongerPBS,” concludes Liz de Somer.
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Media enquiries to: Anne-Marie Sparrow, Medicines Australia /Cube – media@medicinesaustralia.com.au or 0417 421 560
About Medicines Australia
Medicines Australia leads the research-based pharmaceutical industry of Australia. Our members discover, develop and manufacture the medicines that are the foundation of a healthy and prosperous society, including prescription pharmaceutical products, biotherapeutic products and vaccines. Our members invest in Australian medical research and take local discoveries and developments to the world.