The Albanese Government has released the final report of the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Review.
Health technology assessment involves a range of processes and mechanisms that use scientific evidence to assess health technologies for their quality, safety, efficacy, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness.
This informs Australian Government decisions to fund and subsidise health technologies through programs such as the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, Medicare Benefits Schedule and National Immunisation Program.
The HTA Review Report is a consensus report overseen by a Reference Committee that represent the views of experts and patient organisations, First Nations peoples, scientific and clinical practice, industry and government.
Consultation was detailed and extensive, with 28 deep dive discussions with experts and stakeholders, and more than 250 submissions received across two public consultations.
The HTA Review Report makes 50 recommendations across a range of areas, including improving access to new health technologies, tackling inequity, and making HTA processes simpler and easier for consumers and clinicians to participate in.
The Government is also releasing the companion report to the HTA Review, the "Enhance HTA Report", which delivers ten recommendations to elevate the consumer and patient voice in our health technology assessment processes.
The recommendations in the companion Enhance HTA Report were co-designed by a multi-stakeholder consumer led working group representing patients and consumer organisations, the industry and government.
The Government will establish an implementation group to guide the HTA reform process and provide regular updates to Government.
This independent group will be led by an eminent Australian and will include representation from the Commonwealth and state and territory governments, as well as industry, consumers and clinicians, as well as the expertise of a health economist.
The HTA Review Report and the Enhance HTA Report are both available on the health.gov.au website.
The Government will carefully consider the recommendations.
Quotes attributable to Minister Butler:
"The HTA Review Report is farsighted enough to be visionary, while being firmly grounded in the practicalities of the here and now.
"The goal is faster access to the best therapies, at a cost that patients and the community can afford. Value for money remains paramount, because value is at the heart of patient benefit.
"With health technologies, the opportunity cost of a dollar spent needlessly or on the wrong therapy is enormous. It isn't measured in dollars and cents, but in months and years, and time lost with loved ones.
"Good reform must be jointly owned. Landing it will take time and the collective effort of governments, experts, patients and industry.
"The government acknowledges the expertise, dedication and tireless work of the Review Committee: Adjunct Professor Debora Picone (Chair), Dr Dawn Casey PSM, Ann Single, Professor Andrew Wilson AO, Professor Andrew Roberts AM, Adjunct Professor Adriana Platona PSM, and Medicines Australia CEO, Liz De Somer."
