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Accessible Medication Through the TGA & PBS

In episode 2, Naomi talks with Janine Monty, who lives with multiple autoimmune conditions. Janine shares why having access to a large range of affordable medicine is key to her being able to manage her everyday life. Having to take 17 different medications, not all on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), Janine explains just how crucial the PBS is for her. We are also joined by Rheumatologist Paul Bird, who explains, in easy-to-understand terms, the important role the TGA and PBS plays and how patients can have a say in improving access to a medicine. Dr Paul Bird Profile Paul Bird has over twenty years’ experience in treating rheumatic disease, with particular expertise in Rheumatoid arthritis, Psoriatic arthritis and Ankylosing spondylitis. A/Professor Bird received his medical degree with Honours from the University of Newcastle, and he completed his physician and rheumatology training in Sydney. Pursuing research alongside clinical medicine and patient care, he completed a PhD in 2005 examining MRI in Rheumatoid arthritis, and a Graduate Diploma in MRI. He continues to undertake arthritis research with fellow Australian rheumatologists and with international colleagues. He has held Staff Specialist roles at both St George Hospital and Prince of Wales Hospital and a visiting medical officer position at Griffith Base Hospital, where he managed a rural rheumatology clinic from 1999-2005. He continues to teach medical students and postgraduates as part of his commitment to medical education. In addition to his clinical practice Dr Bird is the Director of Optimus Clinical Research, a facility dedicated to pursuing trials of the latest developments in rheumatology. Part of review boards for several large international medical journals, he spends time reviewing research and publications, keeping up to date with the most recent medical advances. As part of his commitment to optimising rheumatology treatments, he is member of the OPAL group directorate, a dedicated group of clinicians pursuing exploration of better delivery of rheumatology care through clinician driven research. Internationally recognised as a specialist in rheumatic disease and imaging, he is the current Chair of the International Magnetic Resonance Imaging Research association and actively participates in national and international rheumatology research. HOST: Naomi Creek PATIENT: Neen Monty DOCTOR: Dr Paul Bird I need these medications, some keep me alive, some make my life more comfortable, and some just make my life more convenient, but they’re all incredibly helpful. I’m really grateful I don’t have to choose, but without the PBS I wouldn’t be able to treat all my various health problems.  Hi I’m Naomi Creek, National Coordinator for Creakyjoints Australia, I’ve been living with Rheumatoid arthritis since I was 12 years old, so I appreciate the importance of having access to a range of medicines that I can afford to treat my disease. In this episode of Patient Prep Rheum we’re uncovering the process of how medications are approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (the TGA), and from there, how patients can play a role in getting them listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (the PBS).  This is a process that can be complicated, however it is one that allows accessibility to medication, and also one that we, as patients, can influence. We spoke with Rheumatologist, Dr Paul Bird, who explained the role of The Therapeutic Goods Administration in Australia. The TGA is the body in Australia that looks after approving medications so they can be available to the general public, that’s a very important role. So their job is to look at new products as they come through, look at the data that’s presented, and say is this effective, is this safe, is there a need for people in Australia to have this medication. The information they are usually given comes from clinical trials, the TGA will look at all of the data and they’ll either say we are satisfied that this compound that you have developed is effective and safe on the data you’ve given us, we’re going to license it in Australia, or they’ll say no. No, there’s no clinical need for this medication. Once a compound is listed by the TGA, it can be available to the general public, now here’s the catch, it’s available at the price the pharmaceutical company charges for it. So if a drug costs $40,000 per year, yes you can have it immediately, but you’re going to have to pay $40,000 per year if I write you a script. As you can imagine this is not sustainable or affordable for most people. That’s why in Australia we have the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (the PBS), which subsidises certain medications, which is critical for people like Neen Monty who has been living with rheumatoid arthritis for 15 years. I take 17 medications that are on the PBS, every day. I take two medications that are not on the PBS, and one of them runs fo...