Therapeutic Goods Streamlining Welcomed

Australia can streamline the regulation of therapeutic goods by removing duplicative and inefficient processes without undermining the safety and quality of medicines, the GBMA says following the Government’s response to the Sansom Review.

Many of the 32 recommendations of the Expert Review of Medicines and Medical Device Regulation would improve regulatory efficiency and deliver more timely patient access to generic and biosimilar medicine, says the Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association.

The GBMA welcomed Minister Ley’s announcement that the Government would implement most of the Review’s recommendations.

“Initiatives to drive regulatory efficiency and reduce the red-tape burden for generic and biosimilar medicine suppliers, without compromising on quality or safety, benefit patients, taxpayers and industry,” GBMA CEO, Belinda Wood says.

“GBMA is highly supportive of improvements in the regulation of medicines that will result in faster approval times for new generic and biosimilar medicines, streamlined administrative requirements and reduced costs for industry.

“It currently takes just over a year for the Therapeutic Goods Administration to evaluate and approve a generic medicine. Reducing this time will bring new affordable medicines to patients sooner, increase treatment options for doctors and deliver savings for the PBS.

“GBMA also welcomes the recommendation to streamline post-market requirements for medicines as it brings TGA processes in step with respected international regulatory bodies.

“Enabling changes to products already in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods to be made faster, and with less red-tape, will ensure ongoing quality, patient safety and continuity of supply of affordable medicines,” she says.

Source: www.ajp.com.au/news/therapeutic-goods-streamlining-welcomed, viewed 19 September 2016