Patients and economy to benefit from ‘medicine manufacturing’ roadmap

Australia’s peak body for affordable medicines, today welcomed the Government’s launch of its Medicine-Medical Product Manufacturing Road Map, describing it as an exciting opportunity to build Australia’s capability as an advanced manufacturer and exporter of high quality and safe medicines.

The independent Chair of the Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association (GBMA), Ms Jane Halton AO, today applauded the initiative which is part of the Government’s $1.3 billion Modern Manufacturing Initiative (MMI), announced before the last budget.

GBMA, and its members, have been working closely with the Government, and other key stakeholders, to protect patients against any disruption to the international medicine supply chains, especially at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic last year.

“Now, as we navigate through this destructive global pandemic, the Government has recognised that the medicines sector can, and should be, a priority enabler of our long term economic recovery,” Ms Halton said.

The Government’s road map outlines ‘investing in highly efficient and automated facilities could offer Australia some opportunities to manufacture certain generics and biosimilars.’

Board member and founding Chair of the largest Australian-owned pharmaceutical company Arrotex, Mr Dennis Bastas, was a key member of the Minister for Industry’s medicine manufacturing taskforce.

“We know medicine manufacturing has long been a sector slowly disappearing from our shores but with the advanced technology, innovation, the right policy levers, funding and industry will; we can see a vibrant and burgeoning home-grown, export-driven pharmaceutical sector develop again,” Mr Bastas said.

GBMA CEO, Ms Marnie Peterson, welcomed the innovative collaboration that the roadmap inspired.

“This roadmap recognises that Australia needs to build its own sovereign medicine manufacturing capability whilst ensuring patients can still access a reliable and resilient global supply chain of medicines,” Ms Peterson said.

We look forward to working closely with the Government in ensuring both outcomes can be achieved to the benefit of our economy and our citizens.”

For more information about the Government’s medicine manufacturing roadmap, please follow this link.

-ENDS-