PBAC Meeting Agenda and Consumer Comments

Obtaining Consumer Comments on Submissions to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee Meetings

PDF printable version of PBAC Meeting Agenda and Consumer Comments (PDF 28 KB)

The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) is the main mechanism via which the Government subsidises the cost of medications used by the community. Under the PBS, items are only available as pharmaceutical benefits following approval of a listing recommendation by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) - an independent expert body that includes health professionals and a consumer representative. The PBAC is legally required, in evaluating applications for PBS subsidy, to take into account the clinical effectiveness, safety and cost effectiveness (value for money) of the medication concerned compared to other available therapies.

The PBAC also takes into account the terms of marketing approval of a product, which is granted by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and specifies the conditions where use of the drug has been demonstrated to be of acceptable safety and efficacy.

A list of the applications for consideration at each Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) meeting is published six (6) weeks prior to each meeting.

Your comments are welcome whether you are a patient, carer, member of the public, health professional or member of a consumer interest group.

The sponsor of the submission has already provided the PBAC with detailed clinical and economic data in support of the submission. You are welcome to provide comments from a personal or group perspective for consideration by the PBAC when the submission is considered.

Your completed form must be received no later than the closing date shown below:

PBAC Meeting	Publication on Web Date	Closing Date for Input
July 2011	25 May 2011	8 June 2011
November 2011	21 September 2011	5 October 2011
March 2012	25 January 2012	8 February 2012
July 2012	30 May 2012	13 June 2012
November 2012	26 September 2012	10 October 2012

All comments received will be considered. Issues from individuals will be made available in summary to the sponsor of the application and the PBAC. The names of individuals will be removed. All comments from groups or organisations will be provided in a complete form to both the PBAC and the sponsoring organisation.

To complete the consumer input form, click the link at http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/PBAC_online_submission_form. When you have completed the form and pressed the SUBMIT button, your form will be sent electronically to the PBAC Secretariat and you will receive email confirmation of receipt which will include a copy of your comments. This form is also available in hardcopy on request from the PBAC Secretariat on (02) 6289 8592.

The Outcomes of the PBAC meeting will be available on the Department of Health and Ageing website six (6) weeks after each PBAC meeting at: http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/health-pbs-general-outcomes_full.htm. In addition Public Summary Documents containing full details of the PBAC decision are posted on the web site 16-18 weeks after a PBAC meeting at: http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/public-summary-documents. Top of page