Same root cause, different impact – HTA PBAC and MSAC have passed their use by date
10th February 2026
This week the ABC reported on the lack of PBS funding for some commonly used medicines. See the link below for the full article.
Essentially the issue boils down to the same root cause as we find for IVDs navigating HTA and MSAC. Technology has advanced way beyond the capabilities of a healthcare funding system – set up more than 40 years ago.
The article below gives examples where the comparator used by HTA and PBAC to evaluate the cost of a new medicine is an old medicine, and in one case, a medicine that has serious side effects. The manufacturers can’t accept the old pricing so the new medicine is not placed on the PBS. The upshot is that people either pay out of pocket for the new medicine or get the subsidised medicine and live with the side effects.
PTA has been meeting regularly with the MBS Division at DHDA for over 2 years to advocate for better ways to evaluate and fund the technology our members deliver to healthcare in Australia. We have made some progress – at least getting an acknowledgement that the current MSAC system is not fit for purpose when evaluating some new technology.
We are working with both the Department and the Health Minister’s office to adopt more agile ways to assess and evaluate existing and new technology. We have recommended the use of an early value assessment process that would reduce the time to fund a technology, from the current 4 to 6 years, down to 18 months.
At our PTA Congress in Sydney on 27 and 28th May a panel of experts, led by a health consumer advocate will look at the Value Fountain delivered by our technology. The Congress’s confirmed speakers can be accessed here. Head to this Congress page to learn more.