Medicines Australia welcomes support for national harmonisation of clinical trials

Medicines Australia welcomes the announcement from the Minister for Health, the Hon Greg Hunt MP, during his CEDA address that he will be asking the National Cabinet to expedite Medicines Australia’s long standing initiative proposing “a one stop shop” for ethics approval of clinical trials in Australia.

While improvements to R&D tax incentive policy settings also remain essential, harmonisation of the arrangements surrounding clinical trials nationwide are vital if we are to increase investment in this critical area and ensure a health-led economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. This reform will mean a healthier Australia along with investment in Australian jobs and economic growth.

As governments, state and federal, consider the steps required to ensure a healthy Australia as we emerge from the worst of the COVID-19 crisis, the innovative pharmaceutical companies represented by Medicines Australia are playing their part in contributing to the global effort to develop a vaccine and improve Australia’s prospects of its being delivered to our citizens in a timely and equitable fashion.

Minister Hunt’s announcement, if adopted by National Cabinet, would enhance the attraction of Australia as a destination for clinical trials for all innovative medicines and therapies.  Premiers and Chief Ministers can take action to deliver consistency within and between jurisdictions.  Their action will decrease complexity and increase speed of commencement of clinical trials and encourage new trials to be initiated, generating further jobs, economic growth and social improvements.

With our general success so far regarding COVID-19, Australia is well-placed to be ‘open for business’ on clinical trials at a time when many other parts of the globe have had to halt trials due to hospitals and clinical staff being overwhelmed.

Medicines Australia and our members look forward to working with Minister Hunt, the Department of Health and State and Territory Governments on this important initiative.

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More information – Natalie Wimmer – nwimmer@medaus.com.au – 0450 728 660