HTA Review preparations gather pace

Pharma News: The HTA Review Reference Committee met with key stakeholders on Monday with the finalisation of the terms of reference on the agenda.

Feedback on the draft terms of reference attracted responses from 32 organisations in January 2023.

Based on the stakeholder input, the Committee discussed making a number of changes to the draft terms of reference which included clarity around the HTA Review being a commitment in the Strategic Agreement between the Commonwealth and Medicines Australia, how equity in HTA will be considered as part of the Review, and more clearly linking the HTA Review to the new National Medicines Policy and 2021 parliamentary report The New Frontier: Delivering better health for all Australians.

The Committee noted that a significant number of issues that stakeholders wanted addressed during the Review “were within the scope set out in the draft terms of reference without being specifically listed”. A work plan, including a schedule for public consultation, is being developed to detail the specific issues that will be covered by the HTA Review.

In consideration of the intermixing of medical device technologies and pharmaceutical innovation associated with combination products, the Committee has now confirmed that health technologies such as medical devices, digital technologies, or medical services (other than those used to improve a medicine, vaccine, cell therapy or gene therapy) “should not be within the scope as the HTA Review is a specific commitment between the Government and the medicines industry”.

The Committee has also committed to greater openness in its processes following transparency concerns earlier in the year, saying “it is important to balance confidentiality and transparency during the HTA Review”. The Committee agreed in principle to the publication of documentation related to the HTA Review unless it involved “confidential material or working drafts of papers in preparation to be considered by the Committee.”

Elizabeth de Somer, CEO of Medicines Australia told Health Industry Hub “Medicines Australia was pleased to be invited to speak with the HTA Review Reference Committee and have made an ongoing commitment to attend future meetings as needed.

“We are encouraged by the dedication of the Reference Committee members who are taking their role seriously. We hope that this will lead to the bold reform that is required to achieve better patient outcomes.

“The HTA Review is a key commitment in Medicines Australia’s Strategic Agreement with Government, and we are invested in partnering with all stakeholders to ensure its success.”

In reimagining healthcare across the entire patient journey, Health Industry Hub^TM is the ONLY one-stop-hub bringing the diversity of Pharma, MedTech, Diagnostics & Biotech sectors together to inspire meaningful change.

The exclusive leadership and influencer podcasts and vodcasts add huge value to our breaking news coverage. The content on Health Industry Hub is copyright protected and should only be accessed under individual user licenses. Please click here to subscribe and visit T&Cs here.