GBMA welcomes a new member

Global healthcare company, Organon, joins the GBMA as a ‘Biosimilar member’, a tier that was created for biosimilar focussed organisations and innovative companies, like Organon, that also have a biosimilar portfolio.

“Now is a critical time for Australia to get the policy settings right so that we can realise the promise of biosimilars and all that they offer patients, healthcare professionals and the health system more broadly,” said the Director of Organon Access & External Affairs, Mr Luke Cornish.

The collaboration between the GBMA and Organon will provide further support, to the association and its members, to develop cost effective, world-class policies, aimed at harnessing a greater understanding and support of biosimilar medicines, by patients and their healthcare professionals.

The GBMA’s Independent Chair, Ms Jane Halton AO PSM, and CEO, Ms Marnie Peterson, both welcomed Organon as their newest member which comes just as the peak body has successfully negotiated a new five- year Strategic Agreement with the Australian Government.

Responsible for delivering over two thirds of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) volume to Australian patients, the affordable medicine sector has secured a commitment by the Commonwealth to better protect Australians against medicine shortages. This will be achieved by enabling companies to hold four to six months of stock of medicines, in country.

“The health and welfare of patients is at the centre of everything we do,” said Ms Halton. “We know that COVID- 19 has pulled the curtain back on just how vulnerable Australia is to a volatile medicine supply chain and we have now taken measures to mitigate against those supply risks.”

Ms Peterson said Organon and the GBMA were keen to now turn their collective attention to policies that could unlock more biosimilar medicines in the Australian market. This, in turn, will deliver significant savings to the overwhelmed Australian health budget and create the fiscal headroom needed to invest in higher cost, new and innovative technologies.”

Ms Halton said she was proud to lead a growing membership base and a board that was comprised of some of the most experienced health executives in the country.

“The GBMA and its members are looking forward to developing smart policies that allow us to maintain the delivery of high value care to all patients, through the secure supply of high quality, affordable medicines,” Ms Halton said.