Why the highly selective measure to initiate the HTA Review consultation?

Pharma News: The Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Policy and Methods Review draft Terms of Reference (ToR) was distributed in early January to only a select few stakeholders, with the consultation due to close on 20 January 2023.

The HTA Review is a commitment in the 2022-27 Strategic Agreement between the Commonwealth and Medicines Australia acting on behalf of the innovator pharmaceutical industry. Last year saw the appointment of the new independent Chair by the Labor Government, Professor Deborah Picone.

In response to the query on the highly selective nature of the HTA Review ToR distribution, the HTA Review Secretariat told Health Industry Hub “To ensure timely commencement of the HTA Review, the HTA Review’s Reference Committee has sought input from a targeted group of stakeholders on the draft ToR. The recipients include a number of relevant entities representing patients, consumers, industry, advisory bodies, Commonwealth and state and territory Governments.

“The Reference Committee is confident that the recipients of the draft will provide a suitably representative set of inputs to ensure that the HTA Review is fit for purpose. There will be public consultation, and opportunity to provide full submissions to the HTA Review, once the ToR are finalised.”

Key stakeholders, including Medicines Australia, hope this selective measure does not “set the tone for the process going forward”.

The Strategic Agreement contemplated that the HTA Review would be completed by June 2023. However, according to last year’s statement from the Minister for Health and Aged Care, the deadline for completion of the review and presentation of the associated recommendations is extended to December 2023.

There has been no public statement about any extension to the targeted timing for the implementation of the findings arising from the review, but given the timing for the appointment of the Reference Committee Chair and completion of the recommendations were both pushed out, it is expected that the implementation of the recommendations will be similarly delayed.

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