LEGISLATION enabling the Federal Government to implement twin strategic agreements with Medicines Australia and the Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association (GBMA), will shore up medicines supply lines, the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia (SHPA) believes.
Welcoming the National Health Amendment (Enhancing the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)) Bill 2021, SHPA CEO, Kristin Michaels said the organisation was committed to backing policies and provisions designed to mitigate against medicines shortages and ensure timely accesss to medications for patients.
"On behalf of Hospital Pharmacists who continue to dedicate precious time to medicines shortage workarounds during a global pandemic, we welcome the new measures reflected in the Bill to enable several security of supply measures contained in the strategic agreements," she said.
"Hospital pharmacists are pleased to see the Federal Government taking further action to address medicines shortages, with these new strategic agreements requiring pharmaceutical sponsors to maintain four to six months' stockholding of vital medicines at risk of supply disruption.
"More recently, the COVID-19 pandemic worsened Australia's already vulnerable medicine supply chains, due to Australia's remoteness and lack of local medicines production facilities."
Michaels added that the Bill also provided certainty on PBS pricing policy over the next five years.
Meanwhile, GMBA Independent Chair, Jane Halton, described the Bill as "a game changer for patients".
"Australians must be able to equitably access safe and affordable medicines, regardless of where they live," she said.
"This legislation enables our members to increase their respective stock holdings of medicines...creating a vital buffer against any threat of shortages."
Regional Victorian pharmacy owner, and Pharmacy Platform Director, Steve Kastrinakas, said the legislation would be "an incredible relief" for patients, pharmacists and doctors in rural areas.
"Regional patients have borne the brunt of rolling medicine shortages," he said.
"They deserve better."
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