“A new era in securing medicine supply for Australian patients,” is how the peak body for affordable medicines today heralded its new five-year Strategic Agreement, signed with the Australian Government.

The Generic and Biosimilars Medicines Association (GBMA) negotiated the new Strategic Agreement a year early, out of mutual concern for millions of vulnerable Australians, who are struggling to access their vital medicines.

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 Independent Chair of the GBMA, Ms Jane Halton AO PSM, said that Australia was in the midst of another frightening global, and national, surge of COVID-19 which “pulled the curtain back on how vulnerable Australia was to international disruption of the supply of vital medicines.”

“On behalf of all Australians, the affordable medicines industry is stepping up and committing to hold additional stock, of four to six months in country, to better protect patients against supply chain volatility,” Ms Halton said.

This commitment is the centrepiece of the new GBMA Strategic Agreement. Witnessing the (virtual) signing of the agreement with the Minister for Health and Aged Care, the Hon Greg Hunt MP, Ms Halton said the GBMA had achieved these much-needed reforms to secure medicine supplies for Australian patients.

Minister Hunt said that the landmark agreement with GBMA will further strengthen Australia’s world-leading Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for patients and ensure improved stability, predictability and viability for the medicines industry.

“These agreements will reduce the cost of prescription medicines for individuals and taxpayers and bolster the supply of medicines available through the PBS,” Minister Hunt said.

“They will also ensure that pharmacy shelves across Australia are continuously stocked with PBS medicines and that Australians will have early access to new life changing medicines regardless of where they live.

I want to thank and acknowledge the GBMA for its ongoing partnership with Government, through these negotiations, and through successive Strategic Agreements, which continue to provide significant benefits for Australian patients.”

The generic and biosimilar industry contributes more than two thirds of all the medicines dispensed on the PBS each year.

In a joint response from the GBMA Board, members observed, “With patients as our absolute (and shared) priority, we believe the solution to surety of supply must be industry led and government enabled.  With this new Agreement providing the right policy levers, we have committed ourselves to substantially increase our own stockpiles of vital medicines stored in country. We have managed to do this, together with the Australian Government, without burdening taxpayers.”

The GBMA CEO, Ms Marnie Peterson, said the new Strategic Agreement, that begins in mid-2022, was firmly aimed at protecting all Australians against medicine shortages as well as delivering further savings to the PBS, to the benefit of the broader economy.

“The association has also reconfirmed its commitment to working with Government on the ‘Repurposing of Medicines’ initiative, in an effort to further expand patient access and advance the availability of treatments in Australia,” Ms Peterson said.

“At the heart of all our considerations are Australian patients and we are proud to partner with the Australian Government to maintain a world class health system.” ENDS

The Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association Executive Board

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Protecting Australians from future medicine shortages and developing effective policies that secure supply will be the shared focus of the Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association (GBMA) and its newest Board member.

Mr Juan Villar, Senior Vice President North East Asia-Pacific and Director of Fresenius Kabi in Australia, joins the board of the peak body for affordable medicines, at a pivotal time for the sector and as the country continues to recover from the devastating health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Responsible for delivering over two thirds of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) volume to Australian patients, the generic medicine sector has navigated a tumultuous year, with GBMA members working extremely hard to protect Australian patients against medicine shortages triggered by disruptions to supply chains globally.

The GBMA’s Independent Chair, Ms Jane Halton AO PSM, and CEO, Ms Marnie Peterson, both welcomed Mr Villar to the Board and said they look forward to his strategic input as the organisation negotiates a new five-year strategic agreement with the Australian Government.

“Fresenius Kabi’s corporate philosophy is ‘caring for life’,” Mr Villar said. “Our values are well aligned with the GBMA’s main focus to prioritise the needs of patients and protect the medicines supply chain. We also need to ensure taxpayers reap the rewards of policies that drive a greater uptake of generic and biosimilar medicines in Australia”.

On behalf of the Board and members, Ms Peterson also paid tribute to the outgoing Board member, Dr Neill Stacey, Managing Director of Southern Cross Pharma.

“For more than five years, our members have benefited from Neill’s wisdom and experience as a board member,” Ms Peterson said. “Always generous with his time and knowledge, we know Neill will continue to help us positively shape the dynamic medicine policy landscape.”

Mr Villar joins the board following the appointment of Ms Halton, one of the most respected health policy makers, as the GBMA’s inaugural independent Chair.

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.

“With patients our absolute focus, we are looking forward to working closely with the Government on developing smart policies that allows us to maintain the delivery of high value care to all patients, through the secure supply of high quality, affordable medicines,” Ms Halton said.

The Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association Executive Board

ENDS

The Morrison Government tonight handed down a blueprint to lead Australia out from under the global health and economic crisis, with Australian patients a priority beneficiary.

The peak body for affordable medicines, the Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association (GBMA) congratulates the Prime Minister, the Hon Scott Morrison MP, the Treasurer, the Hon Josh Frydenberg MP and the Health Minister, the Hon Greg Hunt MP, for unveiling an ‘unprecedented investment’ Budget, aimed at boosting Australia’s health, social and economic recovery.

The Independent Chair of the GBMA, Ms Jane Halton AO PSM, is a former head of the Finance and Health departments, and has overseen more than 13 health budgets. As one of the world’s most experienced policy makers, Ms Halton described the 2021-2022 Federal Budget as “a Budget for the times”.

“This Budget prioritises Australian patients and ensures our world class healthcare system can remain just that, world class.” Ms Halton said. “Whilst the vaccine rollout is clearly vitally important, it is very pleasing to see other significant funds being tagged to breakthrough new medicines and treatments.”

Patients and taxpayers reap the benefits of nearly  two thirds of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) volume being delivered by the generic and biosimilar medicines sector. It was these patients that GBMA members worked extremely hard to protect, as the pandemic crisis triggered disruptions to global medicine supply chains.

“On behalf of all Australian patients, their carers and health professionals, our priority is to remain vigilant against any medicine supply threats,” Ms Halton said. “What the past year has shown us, is that we can never take the security of supply for granted.

With patients our absolute focus, we are looking forward to working closely with the Government on developing smart policies that will serve to ensure all Australians can continue to access affordable, high quality medicines, whenever they need them.” ENDS