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.

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.

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.”