Health Minister Greg Hunt has urged health professionals to embrace more innovative ways to support the uptake of biosimilar medicine.
Opening the Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association (GBMA) event, ‘Your Patients, Your Government:Multidisciplinary Forum and Workshop, this week at NSW Parliament House, he called for healthcare providers to gain a deeper understanding of the economic benefits this emerging class of medicines can bring.
“The government is committed to working closely with GBMA and the healthcare sector to support a robust generic and biosimilar sector for the benefit of all Australians now and into the future,” Mr Hunt said.
Reportedly, GBMA Education CEO Marnie Peterson has praised Mr Hunt’s commitment to support the biosimilar medicine sector.
She says education is just one of the tools available to patients, their healthcare professionals, and hospitals to drive the update of biosimilar medicines.
“We all have an important role to play in ensuring that biosimilar medicines deliver to their full potential, to support the sustainability of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, allowing all Australians greater and more affordable access to innovative medicines,” Ms Peterson said.
The event brought together specialists, GPs, community and hospital pharmacists, private and public hospitals, patient advocacy groups and government representatives to explore key topics for biosimilar medicines and their role in supporting the future of sustainable healthcare in Australia.
