The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) is crucial to the health of Australian citizens. However, despite its strengths, the PBS is not keeping pace with global medical innovation. As a result, Australian patients are missing out on access to innovative medicines. This report presents a challenging picture and reinforces an urgent need to act.

This report summarises the second annual Horizon Scanning Forum, exploring four therapeutic areas – novel vaccines for infectious diseases, novel antimicrobials, cell and gene therapies, and digital health – where innovation is rapidly outpacing regulation. The report advocates for urgent reform to ensuring timely patient access to life-saving and life-improving treatments.

This review identifies factors that influence policy change, explores international policy developments, and calls out potential opportunities for further reform of access to cancer treatments.