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You are here: Home / Archives for Latest news / News 2021

ACCC helps to further protect Australians further protected against medicine shortages caused by COVID-19

December 12, 2021 By Admin

10 December 2021

Canberra, ACT

Canberra:

Medicine shortages from the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to be actively managed by Medicines Australia and Generic Biosimilar Medicines Association (GBMA) thanks to an authorisation confirmed by the ACCC today.

The authorisation extension will allow the Federal Government to work with Medicines Australia and GBMA to coordinate efforts and ensure the continued supply of essential medicines and devices.

Ms Elizabeth de Somer, CEO of Medicines Australia, said that the emergence of the Omicron variant demonstrates that disruption and shortage issues are far from over.

“All Australian businesses have felt the pressure on their supply chains, including challenges with freight delays. As the COVID pandemic continues it remains critical that we can continue to work together for Australian patients to have access to the medicines they need.”

“This ACCC authorisation allows us to continue to manage and minimise risks that could disrupt medicine supply to hospitals and patients,” said Ms de Somer.

Ms Marnie Peterson, CEO of the GBMA added that the ACCC authorisation will help deliver uninterrupted and timely access to the medicines Australians need.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown disruption into everyone’s lives,” Ms Peterson said. “Behind the scenes, the Australian medicines industry has been working hard to protect Australians against global medicine supply chain shocks.”

Medicines Australia and GBMA both recently put into place respective Strategic Agreements with the Australian Government that will focus on timely access to innovative medicines, treatments and vaccines and further strengthen protection for patients from medicine shortages.

Medicines Australia and GBMA thanked the ACCC for their consideration and final authorisation. The authorisation has been granted for a period of 12 months, expiring on 30 September 2022.

–ENDS–

Media inquiries:

MEDICINES AUSTRALIA
Chrystianna Moran

0424 995 118
chrystianna.moran@medicinesaustralia.com.au

GBMA
Jannette Cotterell
Executive Counsel Australia
0419 204 059
jcotterell@executivecounsel.com.au


ABOUT MEDICINES AUSTRALIA

Medicines Australia leads the research-based medicines industry of Australia. Its members discover, develop and manufacture prescription pharmaceutical products, biotherapeutic products and vaccines that bring health, social and economic benefits to Australia. its members invest in Australian medical research and take local discoveries and developments to the world.

ABOUT GBMA

The Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association (GBMA) is the peak representative body of generic and biosimilar medicine suppliers in Australia. Its members ensure that all Australians are offered high quality generic and biosimilar medicines, whilst providing affordable community health outcomes that benefit all Australians.

For more information, please contact the GBMA – admin@gbma.com.au or visit www.gbma.com.au

Filed Under: News 2021

GBMA welcomes a new member

December 7, 2021 By Admin

Securing medicine supply and boosting biosimilar uptake a key focus for 2022

7 December 2021

Canberra, ACT

Canberra: Protecting Australians from future medicine shortages, and driving the uptake of affordable biosimilar medicines, will be a key focus in 2022 for the Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association (GBMA) and its newest member.

Global healthcare company, Organon, joins the GBMA as a ‘Biosimilar member’, a tier that was created for biosimilar focussed organisations and innovative companies, like Organon, that also have a biosimilar portfolio.

“Now is a critical time for Australia to get the policy settings right so that we can realise the promise of biosimilars and all that they offer patients, healthcare professionals and the health system more broadly,” said the Director of Organon Access & External Affairs, Mr Luke Cornish.

The collaboration between the GBMA and Organon will provide further support, to the association and its members, to develop cost effective, world-class policies, aimed at harnessing a greater understanding and support of biosimilar medicines, by patients and their healthcare professionals.

The GBMA’s Independent Chair, Ms Jane Halton AO PSM, and CEO, Ms Marnie Peterson, both welcomed Organon as their newest member which comes just as the peak body has successfully negotiated a new five- year Strategic Agreement with the Australian Government.

Responsible for delivering over two thirds of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) volume to Australian patients, the affordable medicine sector has secured a commitment by the Commonwealth to better protect Australians against medicine shortages. This will be achieved by enabling companies to hold four to six months of stock of medicines, in country.

“The health and welfare of patients is at the centre of everything we do,” said Ms Halton. “We know that COVID- 19 has pulled the curtain back on just how vulnerable Australia is to a volatile medicine supply chain and we have now taken measures to mitigate against those supply risks.”

Ms Peterson said Organon and the GBMA were keen to now turn their collective attention to policies that could unlock more biosimilar medicines in the Australian market. This, in turn, will deliver significant savings to the overwhelmed Australian health budget and create the fiscal headroom needed to invest in higher cost, new and innovative technologies.”

Ms Halton said she was proud to lead a growing membership base and a board that was comprised of some of the most experienced health executives in the country.

“The GBMA and its members are looking forward to developing smart policies that allow us to maintain the delivery of high value care to all patients, through the secure supply of high quality, affordable medicines,” Ms Halton said.

–ENDS–

Media inquiries:

Jannette Cotterell
Executive Counsel Australia
0419 204 059
jcotterell@executivecounsel.com.au

 

ABOUT GBMA

The Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association (GBMA) is the peak representative body of generic and biosimilar medicine suppliers in Australia. Its members ensure that all Australians are offered high quality generic and biosimilar medicines, whilst providing affordable community health outcomes that benefit all Australians.

For more information, please contact the GBMA – admin@gbma.com.au or visit www.gbma.com.au

 

ABOUT ORGANON

Organon is a global healthcare company, formed through a spinoff from MSD, with a mission to deliver impactful medicines and solutions for a healthier every day. As the biosimilar landscape changes, so too does Organon with an unwavering commitment to providing more options for patients.

Filed Under: News 2021

Minister for Health & Ageing, the Hon Greg Hunt MP, applauded for two decades of public service

December 3, 2021 By Admin

2 December 2021

Canberra, ACT

Canberra: The peak body for affordable medicines has thanked the Minister for Health and Ageing, the Hon Greg Hunt MP and acknowledged his deep commitment as a policy maker who has always prioritised the needs of Australian patients and their families.

On the day Mr Hunt announced he would be retiring at the next federal election, the Generic and Biosimilars Medicines Association (GBMA), applauded a 20-year political career, particularly with respect to the medicines and healthcare sector.

The Independent Chair of the GBMA and former Secretary of the departments of Health and Finance, Ms Jane Halton AO PSM, paid tribute to Minister Hunt. “We thank the Minister for the way he has worked with us constructively and collectively to deliver advancements in health care policy and medicine access”.

The announcement came on the same day that the Senate passed landmark laws (National Health Amendment (Enhancing the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme) Bill 2021) that provide all Australians with greater protection against ongoing medicine shortages.

From working with Minister Hunt throughout the pandemic ensuring all Australians continue to access the medicines they need, to introducing Active Ingredient Prescribing, launching the $5million GBMA Biosimilar Education Fund to negotiating a new five-year Strategic Agreement, Ms Halton said the affordable medicine sector has always appreciated Mr Hunt’s compassionate approach to medicines policy.

Ms Halton, is also Chair of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations and Co-Chair of the COVAX initiative. She said the GBMA and Minister Hunt share the values of ensuring the needs of the most vulnerable of Australians were at the forefront of every policy decision.

“The past two years have been the most fraught and difficult that any Minister for Health could face,” Ms Halton said. “Minister Hunt stepped up to the challenge to ensure Australians have been protected from the brunt of this global health crisis”.

The CEO of the GBMA, Ms Marnie Peterson said that the affordable medicine sector had enjoyed a long and positive collaboration with Minister Hunt and his team.

“Thanks to Minister Hunt’s relentless dedication, attention and diligence, Australians can now be better protected against medicine shortages,” Ms Peterson said. “All Australians should take comfort in the knowledge that when Mr Hunt hands over the Health portfolio to a new Minister, they are assured of equitable access to safe and affordable medicines”.

“Our mutual driving motivation has always been the health, safety and wellbeing of all Australians, said Ms Peterson. “We wish Mr Hunt well in his future endeavours and we have no doubt that, he will look back on his time as Minister for Health and Ageing with a strong sense of pride and achievement.”

–ENDS–

Media inquiries:

Jannette Cotterell
Executive Counsel Australia
0419 204 059
jcotterell@executivecounsel.com.au

ABOUT GBMA

The Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association (GBMA) is the peak representative body of generic and biosimilar medicine suppliers in Australia. Its members ensure that all Australians are offered high quality generic and biosimilar medicines, whilst providing affordable community health outcomes that benefit all Australians.

For more information, please contact the GBMA – admin@gbma.com.au or visit www.gbma.com.au

–ENDS–

Filed Under: News 2021

Australians soon to have greater protection from medicine shortages Herald landmark legislation secures supply of vital medicines

December 2, 2021 By Admin

2 December 2021

Canberra, ACT

Canberra: The Senate has today passed landmark laws that will offer all Australians greater protection against ongoing medicine shortages, in a move the peak body for affordable medicines described as a “landmark moment for medicines policy.”

The Independent Chair of the Generic and Biosimilars Medicines Association (GBMA), Ms Jane Halton AO PSM, hailed the cross party support of the National Health Amendment (Enhancing the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme) Bill 2021 as a game changer for patients.

After a long and positive collaboration with the affordable medicines industry, the Government can now enact laws that will effectively manage the impacts of global supply shocks and medicine pricing policies on medicine supplies for Australian patients.

“Australians must be able to equitably access safe and affordable medicines, regardless of where they live,” Ms Halton said. “This legislation enables our members to increase their respective stock holdings of medicines to four to six months – creating a vital buffer against any threat of shortages.

The legislation is the culmination of months of strategic negotiations over a new five-year Strategic Agreement between the GBMA and the Commonwealth. MPs and Senators, from all parties and the cross bench, spoke positively about the value this agreement would deliver to patients across the country.

“Our driving motivation is the health, safety and wellbeing of all Australians, said Ms Halton. “Securing supply is the goal we have long aimed for and the one we have now have the ability to achieve.”

Right now, there are 250 medicines deemed at risk of shortages. These ‘at risk’ medicines treat treat everything from infections, depression and anxiety to high cholesterol, hypertension and reflux. If not treated properly, these conditions can become very serious, very quickly.

Through its new Strategic Agreement, the affordable medicines industry will ‘step up’ and onshore a substantial stockpile of medicines.

Victorian regional pharmacy owner, Mr Steve Kastrinakas said knowing that the medicines prescribed, will actually be the ones available, is an incredible relief for patients, pharmacists and their doctors across regional Australia.

“Regional patients have borne the brunt of rolling medicine shortages,” Mr Kastrinakas said. “They deserve better and we now we know, that no matter how remote or disadvantaged our patients are; there is no risk to them being able to access the affordable medicines they need, when they need them”

The Chief Executive Officer of the GBMA, Ms Marnie Peterson, hailed the passage of the legislation as a landmark moment in medicine policy. “Our members contribute more than two thirds of all the subsidised medicines dispensed across Australia each day.

“Australians rely on us to ensure they can affordably and equitably access the medicines they need without worrying about what is happening to international supply chains or whether companies will withdraw their medicines because it is no longer viable to supply Australia,” Ms Peterson said. “This is a great day for all Australian patients.”

The new Strategic Agreement is due to start mid-2022.

–ENDS–

Media inquiries:

Jannette Cotterell
Executive Counsel Australia
0419 204 059
jcotterell@executivecounsel.com.au

ABOUT GBMA

The Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association (GBMA) is the peak representative body of generic and biosimilar medicine suppliers in Australia. Its members ensure that all Australians are offered high quality generic and biosimilar medicines, whilst providing affordable community health outcomes that benefit all Australians.

For more information, please contact the GBMA – admin@gbma.com.au or visit www.gbma.com.au

–ENDS–

Filed Under: News 2021

A protection against medicine shortages in sight with the passage of a landmark Bill

November 23, 2021 By Admin

23 November 2021

Canberra, ACT

Canberra: Australians can be better protected against ongoing medicine shortages with the passage of new laws that enables the affordable medicines industry to commit to significantly increasing the stock holdings of medicines, in country, to four to six months.

Legislation to better protect Australians against medicine shortages is due to be debated this week.

If passed, it will mark a “watershed moment in the security of medicine supply for Australian patients” says the peak body for the affordable medicines industry.

The Independent Chair of the Generic and Biosimilars Medicines Association (GBMA), Ms Jane Halton AO PSM, said this world-leading policy approach signalled a new era in medicine security and supply.

Ms Halton called for cross-party support for the National Health Amendment (Enhancing the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme) Bill 2021.

“The policy framework that supports a sustainable Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) can become very complex, very quickly,” Ms Halton said, a former Secretary of the Departments of Health and Finance. “But at the heart of this legislation are Australian patients and their ability to access the safe and affordable medicines they need, when they need them, regardless of where they live.”

As part of its new five-year Strategic Agreement, affordable medicines industry offered to ‘step up’ and onshore a substantial stockpile of medicines.

The Chief Executive Officer of the GBMA, Ms Marnie Peterson, said there is currently 250 medicines deemed ‘at risk’ of supply chain disruption and volatility.

These ‘at risk’ medicines treat everything from infections, depression and anxiety to high cholesterol, hypertension and reflux. If not treated properly, these conditions can become very serious, very quickly.

The generic and biosimilar industry contributes more than two thirds of all the subsidised medicines dispensed across Australia each year.

As an island nation, a small market destination and a net importer of our medicines, Australia is particularly vulnerable to global supply shocks.

“Our members are being incredibly proactive in offering to do more to secure the supply of vital medicines,” Ms Peterson said. “Our new agreement with the Commonwealth will not only better protect patients but it delivers significant savings and stability to the PBS,” Ms Peterson said.

“We have worked very closely with the Minister for Health and Ageing, the Hon Greg Hunt MP and his department and we look forward to Parliament passing these laws that will be a game changer for all Australian patients and their families.”

The new Strategic Agreement is due to start mid-2022.

–ENDS–

Media inquiries:

Jannette Cotterell
Executive Counsel Australia
0419 204 059
jcotterell@executivecounsel.com.au

ABOUT GBMA

The Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association (GBMA) is the peak representative body of generic and biosimilar medicine suppliers in Australia. Its members ensure that all Australians are offered high quality generic and biosimilar medicines, whilst providing affordable community health outcomes that benefit all Australians.

For more information, please contact the GBMA – admin@gbma.com.au or visit www.gbma.com.au

–ENDS–

Filed Under: News 2021

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