Will the BMS Summit challenge government to act on HTA reforms amid competing priorities?

Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) Australia is set to host its third annual Patient & Parliament Summit on 19 – 20 November 2024, under the theme Partnering for Patients.

This year’s summit underscores the growing recognition of patients’ critical role in shaping their own healthcare and influencing broader healthcare systems. It seeks to amplify the patient voice in key areas such as clinical trial design, health technology assessment (HTA), and healthcare policymaking.

Central to the summit’s discussions will be the value of early and continuous engagement with patient communities, particularly in light of recent developments in health policy. These include the release of the HTA review report and the Enhance HTA report from the Enhanced Consumer Engagement Process.

“With the release of the HTA review and Enhance HTA reports, the environment is primed for positive change with respect to the engagement of patient communities in healthcare and healthcare systems, particularly with respect to HTA decision making and patient access to innovative medicines,” said Hayley Andersen, Director, Patient Advocacy & Policy at BMS.

“Coming together with key stakeholders at the summit represents an important opportunity to determine ways to advance healthcare reform that can best serve Australian patients.”

The BMS summit comes at a time when the federal government faces mounting pressure to address significant challenges in the private healthcare sector and improve access to primary care ahead of an election. Questions remain about whether the government will commit to any bold reforms from the HTA review. Meanwhile, the pharmaceutical industry continues to lead efforts to spotlight these issues, with BMS playing a prominent role in uniting patients and industry stakeholders to push for meaningful change.

A highlight of the summit will be the BMS Patient Showcase on 20 November, bringing together over 25 patient groups and representatives to share their stories and organisational missions with members of Parliament and senators.

The event, supported by several parliamentary friendship groups, will be opened by The Hon Mark Butler MP, Minister for Health and Aged Care. Keynote speaker Professor Richard Scolyer, a leading researcher and cancer survivor, will share his unique perspective as both a scientist and a patient.

The program also includes meetings between patients and MPs and senators, where lived experiences will be shared to underscore the importance of patient advocacy. These interactions aim to demonstrate that patients are often their own best advocates, highlighting the power of their voices in shaping healthcare policy.

Another key feature is the Shaping Healthcare Together annual roundtable, which will convene leaders from 25 patient organisations. Discussions will focus on strategies to strengthen early and continuous patient engagement and foster collaboration across the healthcare ecosystem.

“BMS is proud to provide a platform for patients and patient organisations to bring their messages direct to parliamentarians through The Patient & Parliament Summit program,” said James McAdam, Director, Government Affairs, Policy & Advocacy at BMS.

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