$55 Million Investment To Give New Hope To Australians Living With Rare Cancers

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Through its landmark Medical Research Future Fund, the Federal Government is investing $55 million to research rare cancers and diseases.

Under the round, the Government is inviting Australia’s best and brightest researchers to apply for grant opportunities. The unprecedented clinical trials activity is aimed at developing new drugs, devices and treatments, and ultimately saving lives.

Of the $55 million:

  • $15 million is for research into reproductive cancers, including cancers located in the cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes, endometrium or ovaries in women, and cancer of the testicles in in men.
  • $5 million is for Childhood Brain Cancer clinical trials, with an aim to double the 10- year survival rate of childhood brain cancer, improve the quality of life of children living with brain cancer, and ultimately find a cure to defeat childhood brain cancer.
  • $20 million will address an increasingly significant burden of neurological disorders including Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, spinal cord injuries and Autism Spectrum Disorders.
  • $15 million will address other significant gaps in current research and/or knowledge in rare cancers, rare diseases and areas of unmet medical need.

In Australia, it is estimated more than 40,000 Australians are diagnosed with a rare or less common form of cancer. For many, there is a lack of evidence-based information to inform treatment options and support networks.

While survival rates for high incidence cancers have improved, those for rare cancers have remained relatively static.

People living with a rare disease face significant challenges including diagnostic delays, lack of available treatments and difficulty in finding the appropriate care.

For more information on the grant round, including application dates and criteria, go to GrantConnect at www.grants.gov.au[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Labor’s Election Review: Where to Now?

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]It is clear from the review that Labor was saddled with both an unpopular leader and unpopular policies.  It might have been able to succeed with one or the other but not both.

Labor has a fundamental issue with wanting to be both a progressive party appealing to city voters, while also being able to simultaneously appeal to the battlers in the suburbs and regions where economic concerns are paramount.

How does it reconcile the demands of both of these demographic groups, that is the challenge.

The fight over climate change and the Adani coal mine became the prism through which this issue was best exemplified.

Adani personified this intractable problem.  Labor wanted to be seen as being progressive on climate change in the cities, while Queensland coal miners in particular saw this as Labor selling out their jobs.

It also sent a broader message.  In vacillating over Adani, Labor could not say that they supported blue collar jobs that potentially any new development would bring.

For a party founded on giving a political voice to workers, this was deadly.  It is no surprise then that Labor’s primary vote in Queensland was 28% and Labor holds only 6 of 30 Federal seats in that state.

A key point that the review makes is that the ALP should avoid becoming a grievance-based organisation.  No political party can be all things to all people.  In taking a stand on issues, a party will inevitably please some and upset others.

While wanting to ensure that minority groups have a voice in the political process, it does not mean that Labor can adopt every minority group with a grievance.  For Labor that means in some cases simply saying ‘No’.

The review also makes clear that Labor needs to reposition itself as the party of economic growth and reform, job creation and rising living standards.

This is quite a common-sense recommendation, but how will Labor give meaning to this.

It is clear that since the election both Anthony Albanese and the Shadow Treasurer Jim Chalmers in major speeches have changed Labor’s narrative in regard to the economy.

As an example, they have dropped the derogatory term “big end of town” in recognition that both small and large businesses both make significant contributions to economic prosperity.

Labor need to develop a credible narrative on the economy supported by policies that will give substance to that narrative.  The Opposition will need to demonstrate how they will grow the economic pie and with that increase living standards and wages, as opposed to just having polices dedicated to slicing up the economic pie.

And the target of these policies have to be those in the outer suburbs and regions.  As Jim Chalmers said, “There’s no path to victory that doesn’t travel through the ring roads and growth corridors of outer metropolitan Australia.  You can’t have a strong national economy without good jobs and rising living standards in the suburbs.”

Its two and half years until the next election so Labor have time on their side.  The review findings provide a potential roadmap.  Will they follow its directions or get lost along the road?

A major indication will be next year when Labor hold its National Conference, one year earlier than usual where it will settle on its national policy platform.

This document will go a long way to demonstrating whether Labor will indeed be a party of economic growth and reform or a grievance-based organisation!![/vc_column_text][vc_zigzag][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”1915″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jody Fassina is the Managing Director of Insight Strategy and has served as a strategic adviser to MedTech and pharmaceutical stakeholders.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

New Medicare Rebates for PET Scans for Breast Cancer

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]From 1 November 2019, the new Medicare rebates will ensure patients with advanced breast cancer can better manage and plan their treatment.

Around 12,000 patients will benefit from these services each year.

In 2019, the estimated number of new cases of breast cancer diagnosed will be greater than 19,300 and more than 3,000 women are expected to die from the disease.

Enormous strides in medical research, diagnosis, treatment and care means the chance of surviving at least five years is now 91 per cent.

The listing of the whole body 18F-FDG2 PET scan for the evaluation of breast cancer boosts efforts to improve the health outcomes for breast cancer patients.

With the Medicare subsidy, the PET scans – a minimally invasive nuclear medicine imaging technique – will save women up to $1,000 per scan.

The new services are:

  • Whole body PET performed for the staging of locally advanced (Stage III) breast cancer (Item 61524)
  • Whole body PET performed for the evaluation of suspected metastatic, or suspected locally or regionally recurrent, breast carcinoma (Item 61525).

The independent expert Medical Services Advisory Committee recommended the listing of these new items.

The committee recommended the new services on the basis that they are comparatively safe, clinically appropriate and cost effective.

The Federal Government is strongly committed to reducing the toll of breast cancer on Australians and their families.

Early detection is key, and for many years now, Australian women aged between 50 and 74 have been invited to access free screening mammograms every two years via the BreastScreen Australia Program.

The Government has said that it is continuing to list the latest proven treatments for breast cancer on the PBS. In May, Ibrance® (palbociclib) was listed for patients with inoperable or metastatic hormone receptor positive breast cancer.

Around 3,000 women each year will benefit from this decision. Without the PBS subsidy, Ibrance would cost around $55,000 for a year’s treatment.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

AMA: Value Of Private Health Insurance Continues To Decline

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Launching the report in Canberra on Thursday, AMA President, Dr Tony Bartone, warned that the private health insurance sector in Australia is on the precipice.

Dr Bartone said that the Government, the insurers, and all stakeholders must work together to make private health insurance more attractive for more Australians, especially younger people.

“With more than sixty percent of elective surgery in Australia occurring in the private sector, the prospect of greater stress and demand being placed on the already overstretched public hospital system is looming large unless the drift away from private health insurance is stopped,” Dr Bartone said.

“Australians need and demand private health policies that are affordable, transparent, good value, and appropriate for their individual or family circumstances, or they will walk away from private health insurance altogether.

“An increasing number of younger and healthy Australians are opting out of private health insurance.

“This is leaving a higher proportion of older patients who are increasingly more likely to be suffering from illness or chronic disease and, as a result, they are more expensive to insure, further driving up premiums. This trend is not sustainable.

“We are still seeing increases in premiums averaging 3 to 5 per cent a year, when wages growth is firmly stuck at around 2 per cent.

“Sooner or later, the number of people with private health insurance will fall further – and dramatically.”

“We need to work to bring back the value in insurance policies, before it is too late.”

Shadow Health Minister Chris Bowen echoed concerns about the value of private health insurance policies.

“The AMA’s report card on PHI comes only 24 hours after calls from CHOICE for the Government to review Private Health Insurance after their updated analysis confirmed that consumers aren’t getting value for money when it comes to their health insurance,” said Mr Bowen.

“Earlier this week the Private Health Industry called to privatise access to general practitioners and other services, which would be a dangerous step towards Americanising our health care system,” Mr Bowen said.

The medical devices industry was the sole contributor to lower private health insurance premium increases both in 2017 and in 2018. The Medical Technology Association of Australia’s Agreement with the Government is on track to exceed $1.1 billion in expected savings.

“Access to a full range of medical technology is one of the key benefits of having private health insurance and we’re committed to helping ensure all Australians lead healthier and more productive lives,” said MTAA CEO Ian Burgess.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Global Insights and Local Promise: Fresenius Medical Care’s annual medical report explores how Interconnected Intelligence is transforming healthcare

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The report also explores ways to apply insights gained in different markets on a global level, and how best practices can be adapted to specific market needs.

In addition to articulating experiences in dialysis care across diverse regions, the report delves deeper into several focus areas relevant to the healthcare industry and the evolution of kidney care:

  • Expanding home therapies to give dialysis patients more control of their lives and improve treatment outcomes.
  • Improving transplant access through open communication and collaboration among multiple stakeholders.
  • Embracing diversity and an interdisciplinary approach to improve value-based care in kidney disease.
  • Developing predictive models to identify dialysis clinics that are encountering problems or in need of additional support, and,
  • Clarifying and explaining the role of nutrition in the prevention and treatment of chronic kidney disease.

Dr. Frank Maddux, Global Chief Medical Officer of Fresenius Medical Care, said: “Interconnected thinking is central to our way of working at Fresenius Medical Care and it demonstrates our commitment to making a difference in the lives of patients. The people of Fresenius Medical Care, all around the world, have always been our greatest asset. Harnessing the full potential of their interconnected intelligence can boost innovation, advance medical progress, develop better therapies, and help drive the transformation of healthcare systems worldwide.”

Download the full report at: https://www.freseniusmedicalcare.com/en/about-us/responsibility/[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Australians say health and medical research matters!

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]National peak body, Research Australia, has asked Australians for their opinions on health for the past 17 years and they consistently tell us that research is crucial to better health and living our best lives.

The Minister for Health, the Hon. Greg Hunt launched the 2019 consumer poll Australia Speaks! at Parliament House yesterday to an audience of Research Australia’s Members along with government representatives, sector leaders and other health organisations.

The Hon. Greg Hunt expressed how heartening it is that Australians value health and medical research and are so willing to participate and contribute in the process.

“Health and medical research is about people so each year, with the generous help of Roy Morgan, we ask consumers for their opinions to enable us to reflect their values, and those of our Members, to ensure policy supports our health system.” says Nadia Levin, CEO of Research Australia.

“It is clear Australians see improving hospitals and healthcare as the number one spending priority for the Australian Government, even ahead of infrastructure, education standards and employment opportunities.

“Three quarters of Australians say they are interested in health and medical research. However, while confident in their ability to contribute to decision making about the future direction of the sector, most Australians don’t know how, and many don’t believe they’d be heard. Our governments and research organisations clearly have more work to do to meaningfully engage with the broader community.”

The results also confirmed that Australians are willing to embrace technology that can help them better manage their own health. They trust healthcare professionals to assist them with choosing those technologies and directing them to other credible online information sources. Professor Mary Foley, Managing Director Telstra Health and Research Australia Director shared her views around the impact of data in supporting improved health and what the future holds with the ongoing advances in technology.

The subject of ‘The empowered patient and consumer – managing our own health’ was discussed in a panel made up of sector leaders including the CEO of the Foundation for Alcohol Research & Education Michael Thorn, the CEO of Diabetes Australia, Greg Johnson and Jeppe Theisen, Vice President and General Manager Oceania, Novo Nordisk. Each discussed the importance of preventative medicine and what they are doing in this space to support Australians.

The poll also covered donations and government funding, and once again support for health and medical research is widespread. And at a time when we see the government partnering with the not for profit sector to support health and medical research, people indicated they would be more likely to donate a higher amount if the government would match their donation – a sentiment also reflected in previous polls.

Australian’s opinions continue to shape Research Australia’s strategies and priorities and observations of the changing trends and current attitudes will be shared widely to help shape policy and change to enable a healthier Australia.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

TGA publishes updated Enforceable Undertaking guidelines

Under section 42YL of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 (the Act), the Secretary of the Department of Health can accept an offer of an enforceable undertaking. An enforceable undertaking is relatively quick compliance solution. It may include encouraging entities (individuals or companies) to improve their compliance arrangements or restrict the activities they can undertake. This can help entities meet their obligations under the Act and other regulations into the future, which in turn helps protect consumers and public health.

The TGA regards the enforceable undertaking as an important compliance tool in situations where there is evidence of a breach of the Act or regulations, but where it may not be in the public interest to take civil or criminal compliance action. Generally, enforceable undertakings are not used in cases involving deliberate misconduct, fraud, or conduct involving a high level of recklessness.

For an individual or company in potential breach of the Act or regulations, entering into an enforceable undertaking can be a cost-effective alternative to criminal or civil compliance action.

Insurers continue to mislead on devices

“The devices industry was the sole contributor to lower private health insurance premium increases both in 2017 and in 2018. MTAA’s Agreement with the Government is on track to exceed $1.1 billion in expected savings,” said Ian Burgess, CEO of the Medical Technology Association of Australia (MTAA) today.

“The claim that the listing of new, innovative and more clinically effective technologies is somehow a negative, is completely absurd and demonstrates that the insurers have lost focus on patients,” Mr Burgess said.

Meanwhile, insurer profits continue to increase, with NIB reporting a 9.2 per cent increase in annual profit recently to $201.8 million, with a share price increase of 31 per cent over the past six months, and Medibank Private’s share price up 16 per cent.

The recently released AlphaBeta report, Keeping Premiums Low: Towards a more sustainable private healthcare system, found that insurers have collected 50% more profit from each of their members over the past five years, far outpacing the 21% growth in benefits paid out.

It also found that private health funds have not extracted sufficient economies of scale in the wake of significant revenue growth and many funds are well above the industry average of 9% in operational expenditure, this includes an estimated marketing spend of $400 million.

“After tax profits for insurers are up 15% over the past three years as affordability for ordinary Australian families goes down,” Mr Burgess said.

“Patient and clinician choice is a key part of the value proposition of private health insurance, one that risks being eroded by the false claims made by insurers about the cost of devices,” said Mr Burgess.

“The medical technology industry believes access to a full range of medical technology is one of the key benefits of having private health insurance and we’re committed to helping ensure all Australians lead healthier and more productive lives,” Mr Burgess concluded.

TGA releases 2019-2020 Business Plan

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The 2019-2020 plan details how TGA intends to advance the Government’s Regulatory Reform Agenda.  Of particular note in the plan is the implementation of the Action Plan for Medical Devices, a significant program of regulatory reform, also with a focus on greater transparency and more consumer involvement in the regulatory process.

Some of the key actions included in the plan are:

  • how TGA intends to meet public expectations in relation to the safety, efficacy, performance, quality and timely availability of therapeutic goods
  • how TGA is responding to innovation in therapeutic goods and emerging public health issues to maintain the best possible outcomes for the Australian public
  • implementation of the Action Plan for Medical Devices
  • international collaboration between regulators to build regulatory best practice, increase collaboration on product reviews and post market monitoring as well as influencing international regulatory policy
  • ongoing education and better, clearer regulatory guidance for industry
  • how TGA plans to undertake appropriate and targeted compliance and enforcement activities.

Should you have any questions or comments in relation to the Business Plan please contact RegulatoryEngagement@health.gov.au[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

U.S. DELEGATION VISITS AUSTRALIA

Based in Washington D.C., the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million business of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.

The delegation, comprised of representatives from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s member companies, was in Australia as part of the GIPC’s efforts to champion innovation and creativity through enhanced intellectual property standards around the world.

GIPC senior vice president Patrick Kilbride said that now at the beginning of the new term of the 46th Parliament was an ideal time to discuss with the nation’s key decision-makers the importance of Australian ideas, innovation and local intellectual property to competitiveness in a globalized knowledge economy.

“In today’s dynamic and disrupted global economy, IP and innovation are of paramount importance, particularly in relation to economic growth and development,” Mr. Kilbride said.

“Australia and the United States have a long history of mateship and collaboration, with many shared values particularly around innovation and IP, generating jobs, fostering mutually beneficial trade and protecting our own sovereign capabilities. It is important to continue the dialogue about ways Australia and the United States can continue to work together to further foster our tremendous bilateral partnership.”

The U.S. delegation discussed with key decision-makers the International IP Index, produced by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which benchmarks the IP environment in 50 global markets around the world.

The Index spotlights key elements of Australia’s regulatory environment for IP that significantly impact the viability of biomedical research, Australia’s attractiveness for foreign investors and the production of new lifesaving cures.

Accordingly, GIPC is calling for Australia to enhance its patent notification system to add transparency and predictability to the supply of innovative, new medicines. Strengthening these elements of Australia’s IP regime would help life sciences innovation to thrive, stimulate economic growth, and bolster Australia’s economic competitiveness.