EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Issued by Authority of the Minister for Health and Ageing
NATIONAL HEALTH ACT 1953
NATIONAL HEALTH (HIGHLY SPECIALISED DRUGS PROGRAM FOR HOSPITALS) SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT AMENDMENT INSTRUMENT 2011 (No. 4)
PB 34 of 2011
Purpose
The purpose of this legislative instrument, made under subsections 100(1) and 100(2) of the National Health Act 1953 (the Act), is to amend the National Health (Highly specialised drugs program for hospitals) Special Arrangement 2010 (PB 116 of 2010) (the Special Arrangement), to make changes to the special arrangement relating to the highly specialised drugs program for hospitals.
The pharmaceutical benefits supplied under the Special Arrangement are for the treatment of chronic conditions which, because of their clinical use or other special features, may only be supplied to patients receiving treatment at or from a public or private hospital having access to appropriate specialised facilities.
Section 100 special arrangements and Part VII of the Act
Subsection 100(1) enables the Minister to make special arrangements for, or in relation to, providing that an adequate supply of pharmaceutical benefits will be available to persons:
(a) who are living in isolated areas: or
(b) who are receiving treatment in circumstances in which generally available pharmaceutical benefits are inadequate for that treatment; or
(c) if the pharmaceutical benefits covered by the arrangements can be more conveniently or efficiently supplied under the arrangements.
Subsection 100(3) provides that Part VII of the Act, and regulations and other legislative instruments made for the purposes of Part VII have effect subject to a special arrangement made under subsection 100(1). A section 100 arrangement may thus modify the operation of Part VII, the regulations and other relevant instruments.
Subsection 100(2) provides that the Minister may vary or revoke a special arrangement made under subsection (1).
Changes to the Special Arrangement made by this Instrument
This instrument adds a new highly specialised drug (Levodopa with Carbidopa) and related circumstances, maximum quantities and maximum number of repeats for the pharmaceutical benefit that has that drug.
This instrument also adds a new pharmaceutical benefit that has the drug Valaciclovir and a new responsible person code for the responsible person GlaxoSmithKline Pty Ltd.
This instrument also correct a typographical error in the entry for one pharmaceutical benefit that has the drug Tocilizumab.
Details of the amendments made by this instrument are set out in the Attachment.
Consultation
The amendments made by this Instrument accord with recommendations made by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC).
An ongoing and formal process of consultation in relation to matters relevant to the Special Arrangement includes the involvement of interested parties through the membership of the PBAC. PBAC is an independent expert body established by section 100A of the Act which makes recommendations to the Minister about which drugs and medicinal preparations should be available as pharmaceutical benefits. PBAC members are appointed following nomination by prescribed organisations and associations from consumers, health economists, practising community pharmacists, general practitioners, clinical pharmacologists and specialists, with at least one member selected from each of those interests or professions. Remaining members are persons whom the Minister is satisfied have qualifications and experience in a field relevant to the functions of PBAC, and that would enable them to contribute meaningfully to the deliberations of PBAC. When recommending the listing of a medicine on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), PBAC takes into account the medical conditions for which the medicine has been approved for use in Australia, its clinical effectiveness, safety and cost-effectiveness compared with other treatments.
Pharmaceutical companies were consulted throughout the process of changes to the prescribing circumstances for listings on the PBS and for this Instrument. This includes consultation through the PBAC process, and agreement to final listing details.
General
This Instrument commences on 1 May 2011.
This Instrument is a legislative instrument for the purposes of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003.
ATTACHMENT
PROVISION BY PROVISION DESCRIPTION OF THE NATIONAL HEALTH (HIGHLY SPECIALISED DRUGS PROGRAM FOR HOSPITALS) SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT AMENDMENT INSTRUMENT 2011 (No.4)
Section 1 Name of Instrument
This section provides that this Instrument is the National Health (Highly specialised drugs program for hospitals) Special Arrangement Amendment Instrument 2011(No. 4) and that it may also be cited as PB 34 of 2011.
Section 2 Commencement
This section provides that this Instrument commences on 1 May 2011.
Section 3 Amendments to PB 116 of 2010
This section provides that Schedule 1 amends the National Health (Highly specialised drugs program for hospitals) Special Arrangement 2010 (PB 116 of 2010) (the Principal Instrument).
Schedule 1
Item 1 amends Schedule 1 of the Principal Instrument to insert a new entry for a pharmaceutical benefit with the newly listed drug Levodopa with Carbidopa.
Item 2 amends Schedule 1 of the Principal Instrument to correct a typographical error in the maximum quantity column in the entry for the pharmaceutical benefit that has the listed drug Tocilizumab in the form Concentrate for injection 400 mg in 20 mL.
Item 3 amends Schedule 1 of the Principal Instrument to add a new brand (Zelitrex) for the listed drug Valaciclovir in the form Tablet 500 mg (as hydrochloride).
Item 4 amends Schedule 2 of the Principal Instrument to insert a new responsible person code (RE) for the responsible person GlaxoSmithKline Pty Ltd. This responsible person will now be represented by both the codes ‘GK’ or ‘RE’ in the Principal Instrument.
Item 5 amends Schedule 3 of the Principal Instrument to insert circumstances in which pharmaceutical benefits with the newly listed drug Levodopa with Carbidopa may be prescribed under this Special Arrangement.