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 29 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	Publications on Web Date	Closing Date for Input
November 2008	24 September 2008	8 October 2008
March 2009	28 January 2009	11 February 2009
July 2009	27 May 2009	10 June 2009
November 2009	23 September 2009	7 October 2009

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 go to Online Comments to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC). 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 7299.

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.