Access to cancer medicines in Australia

A collaborative assessment of access to cancer medicines in Australia (2017)

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) has reported that one in two men will get cancer by the age of 85 years, and this number is one in three for women. Despite our world leading survival rates, cancer represents the largest disease burden for Australian communities, followed by cardiovascular disease.

Medicines Australia’s Oncology Industry Taskforce (OIT) engaged Deloitte Access Economics to provide a report, which reviewed the progress since the release of its 2013 report Access to Cancer Medicines in Australia. This review identifies factors that influence policy change, explores international policy developments, and calls out potential opportunities for further reform. The review draws together Australian and international research with findings from more than 30 interviews, to provide practical and prioritised considerations for the future public policy approach to cancer medicines.

The review has found:

• Australia has broadly kept pace with its international peers in policy reforms to meet these challenges - however, opportunities for further improvement still exist.
• Government has taken positive first steps to improve patient and clinician engagement.
• There are opportunities for change related to investments in real-world evidence, supported by revised evidence requirements for the valuation of cancer medicines; the implementation of provisional listing; and further enhancements to consumer, clinician, and community involvement.

Access to cancer medicines in Australia (2013)

Past investment in cancer care has resulted in the country being a world leader in cancer control, but disease incidence is projected to grow significantly over the next 20 years.

In this report for the Medicines Australia Oncology Industry Taskforce, Deloitte Access Economics has assessed the disease patterns and economics of cancer in Australia and internationally, and canvassed the opinions of various stakeholders on issues pertaining to patient access to cancer medicines.