22 April 2018
GBMA Education Limited, the educational arm of GBMA, has been awarded the Biosimilar Educational Grant by the Australian Government.
As part of the 2017-18 budget process, the Government agreed to continue its investment in educating prescribers, pharmacists and consumers on the benefits of using biosimilar medicines by way of an education grant. The purpose of the grant is to undertake activities to further promote the appropriate prescribing, dispensing and use of biosimilar medicines and the grant recognises GBMA’s leadership position in this field.
An investment of $5 million is made under the grant with activities to take place over three years, for completion by December 2020.
GBMA Education and GBMA members are pleased to be part of this significant milestone in the Australian healthcare industry and look forward to supporting improved biosimilar awareness, and to empower all healthcare professionals to speak with confidence in respect to the use of biosimilars and the benefits that they bring to our patients and the Australian public alike.
“On behalf of GBMA members we thank Minister Hunt, Government and the Department of Health for their support in driving forward this valuable initiative in pursuit of broader health outcomes”, said Ms Peterson, CEO of GBMA.
“The GBMA is committed to pertinent and accurate education around biosimilar medicines in support of increased uptake and awareness at all levels, from the prescribing physician to the end-patient”, said Mr Vigneault, General Manager of Mylan and Chair of GBMA.
GBMA member companies are acutely aware of the high cost of biological medicines to the PBS and therefore see their role as pivotal in continuing to provide a pathway to more affordable access to more treatments for patients, whilst maintaining the viability of the PBS.
APP2018 and RACP Congress 2018 in May this year will see the initial launch activities of the educational grant. These initial activities are intended to facilitate debate and discussion among various stakeholders, encourage peer-to-peer engagement and discussion, and to allow an avenue for constructive dialogue of benefits and concerns in the use of biosimilar medicines. Further engagement of stakeholder groups will occur throughout the grant lifecycle including clinicians, associations and industry representatives and the GBMA look forward to collaboration with these key groups.
As the use of biosimilar medicines increases, lower prices for biological medicines could provide PBS subsidies for broader access to biological medicines and further drive continued innovation in life-changing medicines. GBMA Education welcomes the opportunity to partner with the Australian government through this grant and looks forward to contributing to the discussion and debate in making these favourable outcomes a reality.
For more information, please contact the GBMA. www.gbma.com.au/about-gbma/contact-us/
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