Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee update on patient support programs
Date published:
29 Sep 2026
The Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) stresses that patients need to be able to make fully informed decisions, including financial ones, before enrolling in a Patient Support Programs (PSPs).
It notes that manufacturers and doctors share responsibilities in supporting informed financial consent. This includes ensuring patients have appropriate information and an opportunity to discuss the conditions, costs and risks associated with participation in a PSP.
Please consider these issues when discussing PSPs with eligible patients. The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC) provides useful resources to support informed consent conversations, including guidance on discussing benefits, risks, alternatives and potential costs.
Helpful links: