EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
NATIONAL HEALTH ACT 1953
NATIONAL HEALTH (HIGHLY SPECIALISED DRUGS PROGRAM)
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT AMENDMENT (SEPTEMBER UPDATE) INSTRUMENT 2021
PB 91 of 2021
Authority
Subsection 100(1) of the National Health Act 1953 (the Act) enables the Minister to make special arrangements for the supply of pharmaceutical benefits.
Subsection 100(2) of the Act provides that the Minister may vary or revoke a special arrangement made under subsection 100(1).
Subsection 100(3) of the Act provides that Part VII of the Act, and instruments made for the purposes of Part VII have effect subject to a special arrangement made under subsection 100(1).
Purpose
This is the National Health (Highly Specialised Drugs Program) Special Arrangement Amendment (September Update) Instrument 2021 (PB 91 of 2021) (this Instrument). The purpose of this Instrument, made under subsection 100(2) of the Act, is to amend the National Health (Highly Specialised Drugs Program) Special Arrangement 2021 (PB 27 of 2021) (the Special Arrangement), to make changes to the Special Arrangement relating to the Highly Specialised Drugs Program.
The amendments made by this Instrument reflect amendments to the National Health (Listing of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Instrument 2012 (PB 71 of 2012), which commence on the same day. The National Health (Listing of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Instrument 2012 (PB 71 of 2012) is made under sections 84AF, 84AK, 85, 85A, 88 and 101 of the Act.
Schedule 1 to this Instrument provides for the addition of three forms to the listed drug deferasirox, and the deletion of the listed drug interferon alfa‑2a. It also provides for the alteration of circumstances in which a prescription may be written for the supply of the listed drugs adalimumab, teduglutide, tocilizumab, and vedolizumab under the Special Arrangement. These changes are summarised, by subject matter, 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. In addition, an industry nominee has been appointed to the PBAC membership. 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 listings on the PBS. This includes consultation through the PBAC process.
Further consultation for this Instrument was considered unnecessary due to the nature of the consultation that had already taken place in the decision to list the medication.
Details of this Instrument are set out in the Attachment.
This Instrument commences on 1 September 2021.
This Instrument is a legislative instrument for the purposes of the Legislation Act 2003.
ATTACHMENT
PROVISION-BY-PROVISION DESCRIPTION OF NATIONAL HEALTH (HIGHLY SPECIALISED DRUGS PROGRAM) SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT AMENDMENT (SEPTEMBER UPDATE) INSTRUMENT 2021
Section 1 Name of Instrument
This section provides the name of this Instrument as the National Health (Highly Specialised Drugs Program) Special Arrangement Amendment (September Update) Instrument 2021 and may also be cited as PB 91 of 2021.
Section 2 Commencement
This section provides that this Instrument commences on 1 September 2021.
Section 3 Authority
This section states that this instrument is made under subsection 100(2) of the National Health Act 1953.
Section 4 Schedules
Section 4 provides that each instrument that is specified in a Schedule to the Instrument is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to the Instrument has effect according to its terms.
Schedule 1 Amendments
The amendments in Schedule 1 involve the deletion of a drug, the addition of forms of a listed drug, and the alteration of circumstances for prescribing various listed drugs available under the Special Arrangement. These changes are summarised below.
SUMMARY OF CHANGES TO THE HIGHLY SPECIALISED
DRUGS PROGRAM MADE BY THIS INSTRUMENT
Listed Drug Deleted
Listed Drug |
Interferon Alfa‑2a |
Forms Added
Listed Drug | Form |
Deferasirox | Tablet, dispersible, 125 mg |
Tablet, dispersible, 250 mg | |
Tablet, dispersible, 500 mg |
Alteration of Circumstances in Which a Prescription May be Written
Listed Drug |
|
Adalimumab | Tocilizumab |
Teduglutide | Vedolizumab |
Documents incorporated by reference
Listed Drug | Document incorporated | Document access |
Vedolizumab | Crohn Disease Activity Index (CDAI). The document is incorporated as in force on the day this Instrument takes effect, pursuant to paragraph 14(1)(b) of the Legislation Act 2003. The Crohn’s Disease Activity Index (CDAI) is a research tool used to quantify the symptoms of patients with Crohn’s disease. | The Crohn Disease Activity Index (CDAI) is available for download for free from the PubMed website: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12786607/ A CDAI score calculation form is included in the Services Australia application form |
Vedolizumab | Mayo clinic score and the partial Mayo clinic score. The document is incorporated as in force on the day this Instrument takes effect, pursuant to paragraph 14(1)(b) of the Legislation Act 2003. The Mayo clinic score and the partial Mayo clinic score (an abbreviated form of the Mayo clinic score) are standard medical diagnostic tools used to measure disease activity in Ulcerative Colitis through the evaluation of symptoms. | The Mayo clinic score and the partial Mayo clinic score are available to download for free from the Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Journal via the Oxford University Press website: https://academic.oup.com/ibdjournal/article/14/12/1660/4654949?login=true |
Adalimumab Tocilizumab Vedolizumab | Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)-approved Product Information. The document is incorporated as in force on the day this Instrument takes effect, pursuant to paragraph 14(1)(b) of the Legislation Act 2003. This document provides health professionals with a summary of the scientific information relevant to the safe and effective use of a prescription medicine. | TGA-approved Product Information is available for download for free from the TGA website: https://www.tga.gov.au/product-information-0 |
Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights
Prepared in accordance with Part 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011
National Health (Highly Specialised Drugs Program)
Special Arrangement Amendment (September Update) Instrument 2021
(PB 91 of 2021)
This Instrument is compatible with the human rights and freedoms recognised or declared in the international instruments listed in section 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011.
Overview of the Instrument
The purpose of this Instrument, made under subsection 100(2) of the National Health Act 1953 (the Act), is to amend the National Health (Highly Specialised Drugs Program) Special Arrangement 2021 (PB 27 of 2021) (the Special Arrangement), to make changes to the Special Arrangement relating to the Highly Specialised Drugs Program.
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 specialised treatment.
The amendments in Schedule 1 involve the deletion of a drug, the addition of forms of a listed drug, and the alteration of circumstances for prescribing various listed drugs available under the Special Arrangement.
Human Rights Implications
This Instrument engages Article 2 and 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) by assisting with the progressive realisation by all appropriate means of the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.
The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) is a benefit scheme which assists with advancement of this human right by providing for subsidised access by patients to medicines. The recommendatory role of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) ensures that decisions about subsidised access to medicines on the PBS are evidence-based.
Conclusion
This Instrument is compatible with human rights because it advances the protection of human rights.
Mariana Crank
Assistant Secretary (Acting)
Pharmacy Branch
Technology Assessment and Access Division
Department of Health