GBMA welcomes new member at a critical time in medicine policy

Australia’s peak body for affordable medicines, has welcomed a new member, as it prepares for a high impact policy year.

The Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association (GBMA) announced that Accord Healthcare (Accord) had signed as its latest member in January 2022.

Accord is a key supplier of generic injectable pharmaceuticals to the Australian market. With a strong and growing portfolio centred around oncology and critical care, Accord is committed to providing high quality affordable medicines.

GBMA’s Independent Chair, Professor Jane Halton AO PSM, said Accord would be a welcome contributor to the organisation’s efforts to place the Australian patient at the forefront of all medicine policy decisions.

In a year that will see GBMA members increase their own stockpiling of medicines as part of the new Strategic Agreement with Government, the General Manager of Accord Australia, Mr. Steve Anderson, said the company was equally committed to protecting Australians against volatile international supply chains.

“This pandemic has highlighted how vulnerable Australia is in terms of being a small destination market and a net importer of vital medicines,” Mr Anderson said. “Accord supports the efforts of the GBMA to support policies that will ensure all Australians will continue to receive their medicines, when they need them.”

The CEO of the GBMA, Ms Marnie Peterson, said “Generics and biosimilar medicines are the bedrock

of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and with Accord joining our ranks, our experience and commitment to improving patient outcomes continues to strengthen,” Ms Peterson said.

Generic and biosimilar medicines represent more than 70% of products on the PBS. As the more affordable medicines, their availability creates the fiscal headroom the Government needs to subsidise the more expensive innovative treatments, including biologics.

“Our shared focus in 2022 will be to help the Government drive the uptake of the biosimilars to ensure the PBS remains sustainable and that we can restore some balance to our overwhelmed health budget,” Ms Peterson said.