25 May 2020
- Taking place this week, 25-29 May
- Join the @BiosimilarsAu online community on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook
- Visit the Biosimilar Hub during Biosimilar Awareness Week to download key biosimilar medicine facts that can be shared directly to your social channels to help support raising awareness about biosimilar medicines and their role in a sustainable Australian healthcare system.
Canberra, ACT
Australia’s Federal Minister for Health, the Hon. Greg Hunt MP has officially opened Biosimilar Awareness Week for 2020, stating:
“I am pleased to once again open Biosimilar Awareness Week, an important fixture in the Australian healthcare calendar. It is important for us to consider initiatives that help to support the sustainability of the Australian healthcare system. Biosimilar medicines help to expand the sustainability of the health system, they help with affordability and access which are all immensely important outcomes from the patient’s perspective and immensely important from the systems perspective”.
2019 saw the launch of the inaugural Biosimilar Week – a new educational initiative and event for Australia’s healthcare calendar. The 2019 Biosimilar Week focussed on supporting a nationwide conversation about biosimilar medicines with healthcare professionals and saw the launch of the Biosimilar Hub and interview series with leading healthcare professionals across Australia.
In 2020, Biosimilar Awareness Week is an opportunity for healthcare professionals and the Australian public to engage in a conversation about biosimilar medicines and their role in supporting the future of sustainable healthcare for all Australians. Activities will take a digital approach with communications through multiple networks, supported by a focussed discussion on the @BiosimilarsAu social media platforms. The week is intended to:
- Raise awareness of biosimilar medicines among consumers and carers in Australia
- Raise awareness of biosimilar medicines role in supporting sustainable healthcare for all Australians
- Increase confidence in the use of biosimilar medicines through shared discussion between healthcare professionals and their patients
- Raise awareness of the Biosimilar Hub and the various resources available.
To take part in Biosimilar Awareness Week, GBMA Education would like to encourage everyone to join the @BiosimilarsAu online community on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook. Key facts about biosimilar medicines are also available to download from the Biosimilar Hub throughout the week for the wider healthcare community to access and upload to their social media channels.
By sharing a consistent set of educational messages, through a broad range of credible voices, GBMA Education hopes to create a powerful means to amplify awareness of biosimilar medicines.
For more information visit www.biosimilarhub.com.au/events/.
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ABOUT GBMA EDUCATION
GBMA Education is the educational arm of the Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association (GBMA), which is the representative body of generic and biosimilar medicine suppliers in Australia.
GBMA Education was awarded the Biosimilar Education Grant by the Australian Government in April 2018. The purpose of the Grant is to increase confidence in the use of biosimilar brands of biological medicines that are listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). Through the increased use of biosimilar medicines, the objective is to support a competitive market for biological medicines via peer-to-peer health communication activities.
GBMA Education acknowledges the provision of funding by the Australian Government for the Biosimilar Education Grant Program.
FURTHER INFORMATION
For further information on biosimilar medicines and Grant activities, please visit www.biosimilarhub.com.au or contact the GBMA Education team via email: admin@gbmaeducation.com.au
MEDIA ENQUIRIES
Please contact Cube Public Relations in the first instance via: GBMAmediaenquiries@cube.com.au or M: 0402 994 120 (Kelly Smith) / 0417 421 560 (Anne-Marie Sparrow).
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