Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee seeking members from multiple specialities

Dear members

The Department of Health and Aged Care are seeking nominations to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) for members from each of the following specialty areas:

• oncology
• rheumatology/immunology
• nephrology
• paediatrics and child health.

Deadline: COB Monday,  6 March

Background

PBAC is an independent expert Committee that advises the Minister of Health and Aged Care on matters relating to the Pharmaceuticals Benefits Scheme (PBS) and consider the clinical effectiveness, safety and cost effectiveness of a medication compared with existing therapies in any recommendations put forward.

The PBAC consists of 21 members appointed by the Minister of Health and Aged Care, including medical specialists, clinical pharmacologists, medical practitioners, pharmacists, health economists, consumers and industry.

Commitment

• Preparation time for and attendance at 3x three-day meetings per year to consider applications for listing on the PBS or (National Immunisation Program) NIP

• Preparation time for and attendance at 3x three-day meetings per year to consider applications for listing on the PBS or (National Immunisation Program) NIP

• up to 3x one-day meetings per year to consider policy and other matters

• up to 3x one-day meetings per year to consider policy and other matters

• from time to time, individual members may be requested to attend stakeholder meetings, which are initiated by the PBAC when issues arise over a particular drug or treatment of a particular disease

• individual members may occasionally be requested to attend stakeholder meetings, which are initiated by the PBAC when issues arise over a particular drug or treatment of a particular disease

• members of the PBAC are normally appointed for a period of four years

• members of the PBAC are normally appointed for a period of four years

• members of the PBAC currently receive an annual salary of $56,970, which provides for preparation time for each meeting, reasonable travel, accommodation, and meal costs for attendance at meetings.

• members of the PBAC currently receive an annual salary of $56,970, which provides for preparation time for each meeting, reasonable travel, accommodation, and meal costs for attendance at meetings.

To apply

If you are interested in submitting your nomination, please indicate the specialty area you are interested in applying for and send a copy of your CV, including contact details (CV should be no longer than two pages) by close of business Monday 6^th March to RACPConsult@racp.edu.au.

The RACP will collate all nominations received and forward them to PBAC for their consideration, who will undertake their own selection and appointment process. Please note, members will not be representing the RACP on PBAC but will be serving in an individual capacity.

Important note: Members must be able to interpret the comparative outcomes of therapy involving a drug. As decisions made by the PBAC are strictly evidence-based, it is also important that any nominee to the PBAC has the ability to appraise evidence, in particular to be able to discriminate between strong and weak evidence.

For more information on PBAC, please visit the webpage webpage.