Major parties committed to major medicines policy reform and reviews – whoever wins on Saturday

19 May 2022: Medicines Australia has been assured in official communications from the respective Campaign Headquarters that both the Coalition and Labor parties remain committed to pursuing much-needed major medicines policy reforms following this weekend’s election – whoever wins.

Medicines Australia CEO, Elizabeth de Somer, said that the organisation had written to the major parties asking for their guaranteed ongoing support to ensure major reform processes are ongoing regardless of the election outcome.

Ms de Somer said that the health and wellbeing of all Australians into the future were tied to successful outcomes of the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Review and the National Medicines Policy (NMP) Review, along with other negotiations around securing faster access to medicines for the Australian population.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has shown what can be achieved when people have rapid access to high quality, proven vaccines, medicines, and treatments,” Ms de Somer said.

“We must learn from this experience that the lessons learned extend to all medicines, especially new and emerging medicines, and treatments, to set us up for the challenges of future decades, including new pandemics and health emergencies.

“We can do better. We must do better.”

In formal responses received this week, the major parties have given assurances on the following:

  • Commitments made in the Strategic Agreement.
  • Accept the recommendations from the House of Representatives Inquiry.
  • Finalise the National Medicines Policy Review and commit to its vision and purpose.
  • Establish a high-level, Government-Industry, life sciences roundtable forum.

The letters are available here.

-ENDS-

For further information or media interviews, please contact:
Chrystianna Moran – 0424 995 118 / chrystianna.moran@medicinesaustralia.com.au
John Flannery – 0419 494 761 / john.flannery@medicinesaustralia.com.au