Expert Advisory Panel on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Medicines (EAP)

Expert Advisory Panel on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Medicines (EAP)

The Expert Advisory Panel on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Medicines (EAP) assists with the listing of medicines on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for the treatment of conditions which predominantly occur in Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander populations. The EAP also provides advice to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) on these medicines, particularly in relation to clinical need. The panel helps address the greater burden of disease experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people by improving access to PBS medicines in this population.

Contact details for the EAP can be found at PBS Contacts 

Current Membership 

Dr John Primrose [Chair] - Medical Adviser, Pharmaceutical Benefits Division, Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA)

Dr Tammy Kimpton - Medical Officer, Drug and Alcohol Service, Wyong Hospital, NSW (Nominee of the Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association)

Dr Sophie Couzos - Public Health Officer, National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation

Dr Jo Wright - Principal District Medical Officer, NT Department of Health & Community Services

Dr Dominic Barnes - Vice President & General Manager, Shire Australia Pty Ltd, Medicines Australia

Ms Alison Killen - A/g Medical Adviser, Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health, DoHA

Dr Suzanne Hill - Chair, Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee

Mr Peter McManus - Secretariat, Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee, DoHA

Dr Christine Anantharajah - Therapeutic Goods Administration

Mr Chris Raymond - Secretariat, Drug Utilisation Sub-Committee, DoHA

Mr Paul Storey - Pharmaceutical Evaluation Branch, DoHA

Terms of Reference 

The EAP will provide expert advice to the Department of Health and Ageing (the Department) and to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) (where relevant) on:

a) medication needs in Indigenous health settings which are unmet by medicines available through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS);

b) developing guidance for sponsors and the PBAC for use in the development and assessment of applications for inclusion of medicines on the PBS to treat conditions particular to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health needs;

c) the development of data which provide guidance on the effectiveness of medicines in treating conditions particular to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health needs;

d) aspects of proposed applications to list medicines on the PBS, where the sponsor seeks a listing based on a medicine’s use in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health settings;

e) the provision of medicines to treat conditions particular to Indigenous health;

f) the ramifications of the potential withdrawal from the market of medicines relevant to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health needs, and provide advice to the Department on mechanisms to address these potential gaps in therapy; and

g) the utilisation of future listings included in the Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits to treat conditions particular to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health needs, in consultation with the Drug Utilisation Sub Committee of the PBAC, and the improvement of health outcomes.

In addition, the EAP will:

h) ensure that mechanisms to increase access to medicines to treat conditions particular to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health needs are consistent with the National Strategy for the Quality Use of Medicines.

Background 

The 2004-05 Budget measure Primary Health Care Access Program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People – additional funding indicated that the inclusion of medicines on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme to treat conditions particular to indigenous health needs would be facilitated.

The measure suggested that treating conditions particular to Indigenous health needs may require consideration of medicines not yet registered for use in Australia, as well as consideration by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) of medicines not yet subsidised under the PBS. Assessment of these medicines would be made through existing mechanisms for marketing approval and listing for PBS subsidy.

An Expert Advisory Panel on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Medicines (EAP) was formed to progress the Budget measure. Seven EAP meetings have been held to date.  As a result of the EAP’s recommendations, several medicines have been listed on the PBS exclusively for prescription to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.  Whilst some listings are medicines new to the PBS, others vary the restrictions for prescribing existing PBS items.