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The federal government has appointed nine members to the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Review Implementation Advisory Group (IAG).

To be chaired by the renowned cardiologist and Co-director of the Menzies Centre for Health Policy at the University of Sydney, Professor Andrew Wilson, the IAG will help guide critical reforms in response to the findings and recommendations of the HTA Review Report, which was released in September.

Health technology assessment is the process of reviewing the quality, safety, efficacy and value for money of new health technologies before they are funded or subsidised by government.

Minister for Health Mark Butler said, 鈥淲e are living in a supercharged period of discovery, and the velocity of that change is stress-testing every part of the health sector, from clinical practice to business models, to our systems for health technology assessment.

鈥淭he HTA Review Report was a critical piece of work that brought together governments, health experts, patients and industry, and it is important that all four perspectives are represented in taking forward the reforms that come out of it.

鈥淕lobal surveys tell us that Australia鈥檚 patient organisations lead the world in confidence that they are listened to and taken seriously by government, and this group continues our government鈥檚 efforts to elevate patient voices in key decisions.鈥�

The new group includes a robust mix of representatives from government, industry, consumers and clinical practice, so all voices are heard and consensus can be reached on these reforms. Members of the IAG include:

• Dr Richard Mitchell 鈥� Head of Clinical Services, Kids Cancer Centre
• Dr Lorraine Anderson听鈥� Medical Director, Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services
• Nicole Millis听鈥� Chief Executive Officer, Rare Voices Australia
• Kirsten Pilatti听鈥� Chief Executive Officer, Breast Cancer Network Australia
• Elizabeth de Somer听鈥� Chief Executive Officer, Medicines Australia
• Anne Harris听鈥� Deputy Chair, Medicines Australia Board
• Prof Emily Lancsar听鈥� Chief Health Economist in the Department of Health and Aged Care
• Duncan McIntyre听鈥� First Assistant Secretary, Technology Assessment and Access Division, Department of Health and Aged Care
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A member to represent states and territories will be nominated by the Health Technology and Genomics Collaboration.

The HTA Review Report made 50 recommendations across a range of areas, including improving access to new technologies, ensuring equity, and making HTA processes simpler for consumers and clinicians. It also recommended reducing the time it takes for medicines to be funded, and investing in HTA capability so it is more adaptable and futureproof.

The IAG will co-design a draft government response to the HTA review, and will also consider the findings of the 鈥楨nhance HTA and The New Frontier听鈥� Delivering better heath for all Australians鈥� report.

Image credit: iStock.com/bjones27