The Albanese Government is ensuring patients get access to life changing medications and treatments as quickly as possible.
Due to an unprecedented number of submissions, I have directed the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) to hold an additional full meeting in May 2025.
This additional meeting will consider submissions from pharmaceutical companies deferred from the March 2025 meeting.
Since being notified of the situation, the Albanese Government has increased capacity to ensure all submissions are evaluated and considered by May 2025.
At the March 2025 meeting, the PBAC will consider the submissions most likely to benefit patients and improve the standard of care in Australia.
There is a huge pipeline of new medicines and treatments coming and that is why our Government undertook the Health Technology Assessment Review.
The HTA Review will improve access to new health technologies and medicines and will make the HTA processes simpler and easier for consumers, clinicians and industry.
The Government continues to list medicines at the earliest opportunity once recommended by the PBAC and all relevant listing requirements have been met by the sponsor.
Since July 2022, the Albanese Government has approved extra funding for 264 new and amended life changing listings on the PBS.
