PBAC Chair unveils new stakeholder communication strategy

Pharma News: The newly appointed Chair of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC), Professor Robyn Ward, has initiated a proactive approach to stakeholder communication, aiming to provide a level of transparency beyond the formal PBAC minutes.

“This is the first of these communications and I hope this format will give you a wider picture of the Committee and its discussions,” she explained in the communique.

Professor Ward expressed gratitude to her predecessor, Professor Andrew Wilson.

“I wish to begin by thanking and acknowledging my predecessor as Chair, Professor Andrew Wilson. Andrew has made a significant contribution to Health Technology Assessment (HTA) in Australia, and I look forward to building on his work to ensure that the outcomes of the PBAC mean that Australians have access to affordable medicine,” she said.

In May, the PBAC bid farewell to Dr Meena Okera, recognising her contributions over the past seven years. Professor Ward reminisced about their time together on the committee, stating, “Meena and I had a brief opportunity to serve as fellow committee members on the PBAC about five years ago. As a fellow oncologist, I was immediately impressed by her diligence, thoughtfulness, and the way she placed the patient’s needs at the centre of discussions.”

The PBAC’s Intracycle meeting in May featured significant discussions and expert insights. The committee was joined by the Chair of the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI), Professor Nigel Crawford, who provided advice on the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) maternal vaccine Abrysvo. Additionally, committee members deliberated on the optimal use of immunotherapy for cancer treatment.

“With PBAC submissions for use in the neoadjuvant, adjuvant, and metastatic settings, we discussed the importance of understanding the clinical benefit with retreatment and how to best fund a model of care which delivers outcomes for patients.

“The committee will continue this important discussion at future meetings and will seek input from a broad group of stakeholders so that we can provide clear guidance to applicants,” said Professor Ward.

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