The Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association (GBMA), Australia’s peak body for affordable medicines, are pleased to announce, the signing of a new 5-year Strategic Agreement with the Australian Government, with patient access to medicines at the core of its objectives. View the press release here.
The GBMA and its members have always advocated for patient access to affordable medicines and highlighted the vulnerabilities in the global and local supply chains. This has especially come to the forefront in the current pandemic environment.
On behalf of all Australians, the GBMA has achieved much-needed reforms to secure medicine supplies for Australian patients. The centrepiece of the new Agreement is a commitment from the affordable medicines industry to hold an agreed increased level of stock in country, to better protect patients against supply volatility.
The measures negotiated in this Agreement aim to ensure access to medicines, without disruption, providing healthcare professionals and patients with confidence that continuity of therapy will be preserved. This, together with reforms aimed to drive further savings to the PBS, will also allow the generic and biosimilars industry to continue delivering the fiscal headroom required to help subsidise new and innovative treatments for Australian patients.
With the generic and biosimilar medicines industry contributing more than two thirds of all medicines listed on the PBS, GBMA members will continue to work with the Government and all industry stakeholders to protect Australians against medicine shortages and to ensure patients continue to have timely access to safe and affordable medicines.
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.
GBMA signatories to the agreement at the virtual ceremony held on September 6, 2021, are Professor Jane Halton AO PSM, GBMA’s Independent Chair; Mr Dennis Bastas, GBMA Lead Negotiator and CEO and Chair, Arrotex Pharmaceuticals; and Ms Marnie Peterson, GBMA Chief Executive Officer.
For more information, please contact the GBMA – admin@gbma.com.au
Media Enquiries – Jannette Cotterell, Executive Counsel Australia – M 0419 204 059 – E jcotterell@executivecounsel.com.au
