Sandoz the global leader in affordable medicines,says Australia’s conversation on biosimilar medicines has reached a point of clear and growing consensus, with health leaders united on the need for practical reform that reduces costs for patients, simplifies administrative complexity for clinicians and pharmacists, and supports broader access to medicines.
Sandoz General Manager Australia and New Zealand, Clint Holland, commented:
“It is clear Australia mustbetter harness the value of biosimilar medicines, which until now has been an unrealised opportunity across the Australian health system. Clinicians, pharmacists, patient advocates and policy leaders are strongly aligned on the immediate actions required to deliver meaningful system‑level change. Now is the time to act
to strengthen the long‑term sustainability and resilience of the PBS in line with the objectives of the National Medicines Policy. Together, we can reduce the cost burden for patients, remove unnecessary administrative complexity, and ensure the PBS can continue to fund access to medicines into the future.”
The recent Sandoz Medicines Access and Biosimilar Policy Summit, held in Canberra on 31 March 2026, reinforced that while Australia has a strong healthcare system, it is not fully realising the benefits that biosimilar medicines deliver in comparable countries. Data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) shows uptake of key biosimilar medicines in Australia’s retail pharmacy setting sits at 39 per cent, well below the OECD average of 67 per cent, with several European countries achieving uptake rates above 80 to 90 per cent.[1] This gap limits competition, constrains PBS savings, and delays patient access to medicines that are already standard practice elsewhere.[2]
Participants echoed the strength of the stakeholder consensus that came out of the Summit, which showcased their united sentiments. Samantha Kourtis, a community pharmacist from Canberra, commented: “I was moved most by hearing both the confidence from specialists and the lived experiences of patient advocates. Their stories reminded me just how hard it can be to access care and how important it is that we do better for Australian patients.
“Biosimilar medicines represent a real opportunity, for both government and clinicians alike, to improve access and reduce the burden on our patients. With such strong evidence behind them, embracing biosimilar medicines more fully in Australia feels like a natural and necessary next step – one I’m now even more confident championing in my own practice.”
Lisa Robins, CEO of Patients Australia (PA), spoke passionately about the current patient experience. She also shared some preliminary insights from data collected in a recent Australian population survey conducted by PA:
“One in three Australians are accessing medicines outside the PBS, with women disproportionately affected, rising to one in two for people with multiple health conditions. Patients are feeling the strain of medicine costs and have made it clear that lower out-of-pocket costs and more affordable co-payments would make the biggest difference to access.”
This is reinforced from a clinician perspective by Dr. Nick Coatsworth, a specialist infectious disease expert practicing at Canberra Hospital and Ambassador for Health Reform at Patients Australia. Dr. Nick Coatsworth noted:
“Patients have clearly told us that doctor trust, recommendations and advice are the
strongest drivers of biosimilar uptake. Where trust is paramount and cost of living remains a key concern, how we as clinicians offer guidance will be critical to wider adoption, alongside measures that ease financial pressure, such as lower co-payments.”
Next steps
At the Summit’s conclusion, health leaders agreed that patients should experience more of the financial benefit already generated through biosimilar use. While biosimilar medicines have the ability to deliver savings of up to $1.5 billion to the PBS, the financial benefits generated do not consistently translate into lower out-of-pocket costs for patients.1 Policy options such as reduced PBS co-payments for biosimilar medicines were confirmed as a practical way to deliver cost of living relief, while maintaining equivalent clinical outcomes and supporting confidence in biosimilar use.
There was also strong consensus that administrative complexity has become a significant and growing burden for clinicians and pharmacists, particularly through PBS authority requirements and fragmented prescribing pathways for biologic medicines. Simplifying these processes would free up clinical time, reduceduplication and support faster, more equitable access to treatment for patients.
International experience demonstrates that countries achieving higher biosimilar uptake have done so by combining existing pricing mechanisms with complementary demand‑side policies that support prescribing, dispensing and patient choice.2 These approaches have not only expanded access to medicines but have also strengthened market sustainability and continuity of supply.[3]
With the policy levers now well understood and consensus firmly established, Summit participants agreed that aligning uptake, access and reinvestment will be critical to ensuring patients see real benefits from this next phase of medicines innovation.
References
1. Organisation for Economic Co‑operation and Development (OECD). Health at a glance 2023: OECD indicators. Paris: OECD Publishing; 2023. Available from: https://www.oecd.org/health/health-at-a-glance.
2. Sandoz Pty Ltd. Pioneering access for patients through biosimilar medicines. Australia: Sandoz; 2025.
3. Rémuzat C, Kapuśniak A, Caban A, Ionescu D, Radière G, Mendoza C, et al. Supply‑side and demand‑side policies for biosimilars: an overview in 10 European member states. J Mark Access Health Policy. 2017;5(1):1307315. doi:10.1080/20016689.2017.1307315.
Disclaimer
This Media Release contains forward-looking statements, which offer no guarantee with regard to future performance. These statements are made on the basis of management’s views and assumptions regarding future events and business performance at the time the statements are made. They are subject to risks and uncertainties including, but not confined to, future global economic conditions, exchange rates, legal provisions, market conditions, activities by competitors and other factors outside of the control of Sandoz.
Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual outcomes may vary materially from those forecasted or expected. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of the particular statement, and Sandoz undertakes no obligation to publicly revise any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.
