CHF appreciates the opportunity to provide a submission to the “Co-design of an Enhanced Consumer Engagement Process for health technology assessment” consultation.

The overall health of Australians accessing the healthcare system relies heavily on the availability, safety and quality of health technologies approved by the TGA. Technologies are then subsidised by bodies such as the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) after recommendations by mechanisms such as the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) and the Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC).

Consumers ultimately bear the cost of all health technologies through their taxes and out-of-pocket expenses. For this reason, consumers are major stakeholders in any HTA reform. While recognising that ambitious reform will always require broad-ranging consensus, the views of Australians as health consumers are the most significant group during this process.

The original consultation document can be accessed here.