Guild hails generics supply options

THE Pharmacy Guild of Australia has urged the Therapeu c Goods Administra on (TGA) to adopt a ra[ of measures to address the chronic medicines shortage situa on in Australia (PD 30 Jul).

The Guild was commen ng in its submission to the TGA consulta on: Reforms to the Generic Medicine Market Authorisa on Process.

A total of 23 submissions were received, including those from the Australian Self Medica on Industry (now rebadged to Consumer Healthcare Products Australia), Consumers Health Forum of Australia, Medicines Australia and some pharmaceu cal companies and public health groups.

The strongest point made in the submission related to the me‐ was ng impact on pharmacy businesses needing to source alterna ve medicines to those prescribed.

The Guild said that is me that could be beQer spent “providing counselling and clinical care” with pa ents.

Proac ve planning should be a normal expecta on to maintain supply and at the same me, applica ons to the TGA for registra on and the Pharmaceu cal Benefits Advisory CommiQee (PBAC) for lis ng on the PBS should be synchronised, so that the process “is not prohibi ve for the sponsor,” the Guild wrote.

Costs around these processes should also be reconsidered so they are not too prohibi ve especially for smaller companies to introduce generics to cover a shortage for products which otherwise have a dominant share.

The Guild also supported the ques ons around incen ves for sponsors to bring more generics to Australia and to address shortages and expenditure.

A broader recommenda on from the Guild was that the TGA make “greater diversity of available formula ons”.

“A more robust supply of generic medicines will enable proac ve management of poten al medicine shortages, which will reduce stress on the Australian Health system and result in beQer health outcomes for pa ents.”