Inquiry into National Health Amendment (Pharmaceutical and Other Benefits - Cost Recovery) Bill 2008
Terms of Reference
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On 18 June 2008 the Senate referred the
National Health Amendment (Pharmaceutical and Other Benefits – Cost
Recovery) Bill 2008 to the Community Affairs Committee for inquiry and
report not before 18 August 2008.
The motion to refer the Bill also included
the principal matters for consideration which are:
- That the National Health Amendment (Pharmaceutical and Other
Benefits – Cost Recovery) Bill 2008 be referred to the Community Affairs
Committee for inquiry and report not before 18 August 2008, together with
the following matters:
- the impact of the Pharmaceutical
Benefit Scheme (PBS) cost recovery on:
- patients' timely and affordable
access to medicines,
- the Australian pharmaceutical
industry,
- new products and innovation, and
- the independence of the
Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee;
- cost recovery mechanisms in other
countries;
- how cost recovery will improve the timeliness and effectiveness
of the current PBS process for listing new medicines; and
- the modelling and consultation underpinning the decision.
- That, in conducting its inquiry, the committee hear evidence,
inter alia, from the pharmaceutical industry, generic medicines industry,
consumer and patient health groups, the Department of Health and Ageing,
the PBS Evaluation Units and the Australian Medical Association and other
medical bodies.
The Bill, second reading speech, and Bills
Digest may be accessed via the link:
Legislation and documentation to the Bill
The Committee invites you
to provide a written submission addressing issues that may be of relevance
to you. The submission should be lodged by 14 July 2008. The Committee
prefers to receive submissions electronically as an attached document – email:
community.affairs.sen@aph.gov.au – otherwise by fax (02 6277 5829).
Submissions should be
addressed to:
The
Secretary
Senate Community Affairs Committee
PO
Box 6100
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
The Committee intends to hold a hearing on
the Bill on 28 July 2008 in Canberra.
Submissions become Committee documents and
are made public only after a decision by the Committee. Publication of
submissions includes loading them onto the internet and their being
available to other interested parties including the media. Persons making
submissions must not release them without the approval of the Committee.
Submissions are covered by parliamentary privilege but the unauthorised
release of them is not protected.
Information relating to Senate
Committee inquiries, including notes to assist in the preparation of
submissions for a Committee, can be located on the Internet at
https://www.aph.gov.au/senate/committee/wit_sub/index.htm
Should you require
further information please contact the Committee Secretariat on
(02) 6277 3515.
E-mail: community.affairs.sen@aph.gov.au
For further information, contact:
Committee Secretary
Senate Standing Committees on Community Affairs
PO Box 6100
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Australia