28 June 2019 - The Department of Health has published an update of the outcomes from the May 2019 PBAC intracycle meeting.

The announcement makes no reference to what has been updated. Unless one has a copy of the original publication or a photographic memory, one cannot readily determine what has actually been revised. This is not good enough.

The update relates to the publication of the PBAC's 'outcome' on an 'other matter'. None the previously announced outcomes appear to have been revised.

The 'other matter' relates to ‘the standardised redaction of Public Summary Documents’.

"The PBAC indicated its preference for greater transparency to be introduced in PSDs from the November 2019 PBAC meeting, but noted further consultation with the pharmaceutical industry is needed to understand and work through commercial-in- confidence issues and sensitivities. The PBAC asked the Department to have further discussions with the pharmaceutical industry."

This is to be welcomed; nonetheless, much more can and should be done.  The PSDs are woefully inconsistent with respect to the reporting of key aspects of submissions such as the base-case ICER range for the final patient population and the budget impact range for the final patient population. This does not require further discussion with the pharmaceutical industry.  The Department needs to lift its game here.

Read outcomes from the May 2019 PBAC meeting