Using national health policies to improve access to palliative care medications in the community
Date
2009
Authors
Rowett, D.
Ravenscroft, P.J.
Hardy, J.
Currow, D.C.
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Journal article
Citation
Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 2009; 37(3):395-402
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Abstract
Access to affordable priority palliative care medicines needs to be informed by good clinical data from well-conducted clinical tirals designed to addess efficay, cost-effectiveness, and safety. Availability ofpriority palliative care symptom control medicines improves the provision of palliation in the place pf patients choice including the community. Wihtin Australia, a National Medicines Policy and a Palliative Care Stratey endoresed by Federal and State and Territory health ministers have facilitated a process to improve the evidence for palliative clinical practice and, through this, improve community availability of key medications for people at he end of life. The initiative, coordinated by aworking party under government auspices, has brought toger medicen regulators, the pharmaceutical industry, government, policy makers, and clinicians. The brief was to improve availability of key palliative care medications within the current national drug regulatory and funding frameworks. The results to date include; a palliative care section within the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme generating the first ever patient defiend section; medicines not previously listed now available; commitment of Au$ 9.46 M for a national multisite collaborative clinical study network to improve the evidence for clinical interventions in the palliative care setting through systematic investigation with regorous Phase III and IV studies to inform registration and subsidy applications; and establishing a nationa Communication Network of the Palliative Care Medications Working Group for the health workforce and community to improve the quality use where improved access has been achieved.
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Copyright 2009 U.S. Cancer Pain Relief Committee
Access Condition Notes: As per publisher website available freely after embargo period of 12 months