Access to medicines advocate wins top award

The 2010 Pat Clear Award, the Australian medicines industry’s most prestigious award, has been won by Dell Kingsford Smith, an executive of the pharmaceutical company Janssen-Cilag Pty Ltd.

The Award was presented to Ms Kingsford Smith at the Medicines Australia conference last night (Tuesday). It is awarded annually to recognise an outstanding level of commitment by an individual, group or team for the benefit of the Australian medicines industry.

Ms Kingsford Smith received the award for her ongoing leadership of the medicines industry’s engagement with the Government on health technology assessment.

She has been at the forefront of the medicines industry’s negotiations with the Department of Health and Ageing over the past five years that have led to improved transparency of the PBS listing process.

As a result of those negotiations, consumers are now able to contribute to the evaluation process for the PBS listing of new medicines.

Medicines Australia chief executive Dr Brendan Shaw congratulated Ms Kingsford Smith and said the Award was richly deserved.

“Dell has been instrumental in improving access to medicines for Australian consumers over the past five years, both in hospital and community settings.

“She has been a tireless advocate for better assessment processes for health technologies so that Government can make more informed choices about the value of the medicines they subsidise.

“It is because of Dell that Australians can now have more information about the medicines they are taking and how they are assessed for reimbursement.

“Dell has been a long-time champion both for the industry and for patients and this award is a well-deserved recognition of this.”

Ms Kingsford Smith is Senior Director of Health Economics and Global Strategic Marketing and Market Access at Janssen.

The Pat Clear Award was established in 2002 to commemorate the substantial contribution Mr Clear made to the medicines industry in Australia in an illustrious career which spanned 40 years.

–ENDS–

Contact Person:

Jamie Nicholson
Media Communications Manager
Phone: 0419 220 293
Email: Jamie.Nicholson@medicinesaustralia.com.au