Role
The Stoma Product Assessment Panel assesses applications from suppliers of stoma-related products who want to add a product to the Stoma Appliance Scheme Schedule.
Suppliers can apply any time, and the panel considers applications twice a year.
The panel considers the product’s:
- safety
- clinical efficacy
- quality
- ease of use
- cost effectiveness.
The panel then recommends whether or not to approve the application, as well as:
- the maximum monthly quantity
- a price for the product
- any restrictions for use.
The Australian Government makes the final decisions.
Read more about what the panel considers for each product in our guidelines.
Members
Panel members have broad expertise in reviewing economic and clinical evidence, as well as in clinical practice.
Member | Background and experience |
Mr James Keck (Chair) | Colorectal surgeon |
Ms Hermoine Agee | Australian Council of Stoma Associations (ACSA) representative |
Mr Chip Farmer | Colorectal surgeon |
Mr Clyde Foss | Industry representative |
Mr Francis Ip | Review of clinical and economic evidence |
Ms Julia Kittscha | Stomal Therapy Nurse |
Ms Wendy Sansom | Stomal Therapy Nurse |
Ms Denise Sheard | Consumer representative |
Dr Mark Thomas | Review of clinical and economic evidence |
Meetings
The panel meets twice a year to assess applications. The 2025 meeting dates are:
- SPAP meeting – 27 May 2025 (closing date for applications is 28 March 2025)
- SPAP meeting – 28 October 2025 (closing date for applications is 29 August 2025)
Resources
Following each meeting, we publish summary documents, including applicant comments and reasons for the panel’s decisions. See the public summary documents for:
- July 2024
- May 2024
- October 2023
- May 2023
- October 2022
- April 2022
- October 2021
- April 2021
- November 2020
- October 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- November 2019
- October 2019
- older.