PBAC Meeting Agenda and Consumer Comments
Page last updated: 28 September 2023
Obtaining Consumer Comments on Submissions to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee Meetings
The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) is the main mechanism via which the Government subsidises the cost of medications used by the community. Medicines can only be included on the PBS if recommended for listing by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC), an independent expert body that includes health professionals, consumer nominees and an industry nominee. The PBAC is legally required, in evaluating applications for PBS subsidy, to take into account the clinical effectiveness, safety and cost effectiveness (value for money) of the medication concerned compared to other available therapies.
The PBAC also takes into account the terms of marketing approval of a product, which is granted by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). Medicines are only generally included on the PBS for treatment of conditions for which they are registered by the TGA.
In a submission for PBS listing the sponsor of the medicines provides the PBAC with detailed clinical and economic information in support of their submission. PBAC publishes its main meeting agenda 14 weeks before each meeting, which includes the list of submissions it will consider. Consultation on these submissions is open for 8 weeks.
You are welcome to provide consultation input whether you are a patient, carer, member of the public, health professional or member of a consumer interest group for consideration by the PBAC alongside the information submitted by the sponsor when the submission is considered.
The Office of Heath Technology Assessment Consultation Hub lists all open consultations.
|
PBAC Meeting Date |
Date of Publication of Agenda On Web Date consultation opens |
Date of updated Agenda on Web |
Closing Date for Consultation Input |
|---|---|---|---|
|
March 2024 |
22 November 2023 |
5 January 2024 |
31 January 2024 |
|
July 2024 |
3 April 2024 |
10 May 2024 |
29 May 2024 |
|
November 2024 |
31 July 2024 |
6 September 2024 |
25 September 2024 |
Comments from individuals and health professionals will be made available in summary form to the sponsor of the application and the PBAC. The names of individuals will be removed. All comments from groups or organisations will be provided in a complete form to both the PBAC and the sponsor of the medicine.
To complete the consumer input form, please go to the Office of Health Technology Assessment (OHTA) Consultation Hub and click on the PBAC link . Please note we do not accept petitions, duplicate submissions from the same author, form letters (multiple copies of the same statements of support for access), or any material that is inappropriate in language or tone.
When you have completed the form and pressed the SUBMIT button, your form will be sent electronically to the PBAC Secretariat and you will receive an email confirmation of receipt which will include a copy of your comments.
The Outcomes of the PBAC meeting will be available on the PBS website six (6) weeks after each PBAC meeting. In addition Public Summary Documents containing full details of the PBAC advice are posted on the PBS website 16-18 weeks after a PBAC meeting.
