Time for the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee to set its own agenda

Abstract

Drug subsidy recommendations should be informed by active assessment of current evidence and emerging treatments. Decisions about which medicines should be subsidised by the Australian Government on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) are based on recommendations made by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) — an independent statutory body appointed by the government. The PBAC lists among its goals maximising the “value” that Australia derives from its health expenditure and “meet[ing] the health needs of the majority of the Australian community”. While the PBAC is generally thought to have in place good processes for working towards these goals, its decisions are increasingly contested by consumers, governments, clinicians and the pharmaceutical industry