Tuesday May 31, 2022
Canberra, ACT
The announcement of Australia’s new Health & Aged Care Minister, the Hon Mark Butler MP, and colleagues, Ms Ged Kearney MP, as the Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care and Ms Anika Wells MP as the Minister for Aged Care, was warmly welcomed by the peak body for affordable medicines, the Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association (GBMA).
The Independent Chair of the GBMA, Professor Jane Halton AO PSM, said members and their patients, were ready to start work with Mr Butler, the new Prime Minister, the Hon Anthony Albanese MP, and his Ministry colleagues, to ensure all Australians can continue to have equitable access to affordable medicines.
The GBMA looks forward to working with the new Labor Government on the commencement and implementation of the new five-year Strategic Agreement with the GBMA (starting on July 01, 2022), which will empower the affordable medicines sector to build a four-to-six-month stockpile of medicines to guard against global shortages.
Other ALP election commitments include reducing the general co-payment by $12.50 on all medicines listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)1 which Professor Halton said would benefit all Australians battling with the rising cost of living, and to continue the review of the National Medicines Policy, amongst other policy commitments.
“As Australia emerges from a global health and economic crisis, GBMA and the incoming Albanese Government, share the policy mission of delivering to all Australians, equitable access to affordable medicines.” Professor Halton said today.
Patients and taxpayers reap the benefits of nearly two thirds of the PBS volume being delivered by the generic and biosimilar medicines sector.
The CEO of the GBMA, Ms Marnie Peterson, said her members were ready to be a part of the recovery of an over- stretched health budget.
“We are well placed to drive more generics and biosimilars onto the PBS to provide the new Government with the fiscal headroom to subside the innovative but very expensive biologic treatments.” Ms Peterson said.
“The GBMA looks forward to working with the new Labor Government to develop and implement smart and cost- effective policies that will ensure all Australians can continue to access affordable, high-quality medicines, whenever they need them.” ENDS
Media inquiries:
Jannette Cotterell
Executive Counsel Australia
0419 204 059
jcotterell@executivecounsel.com.au
ABOUT GBMA
The Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association (GBMA) is the peak representative body of generic and biosimilar medicine suppliers in Australia. Its members ensure that all Australians are offered high quality generic and biosimilar medicines, whilst providing affordable community health outcomes that benefit all Australians.
For more information, please contact the GBMA – admin@gbma.com.au or visit www.gbma.com.au