Government accepts report by Clinical Trials Action Group

The Gillard Labor Government has accepted the recommendations of the Clinical Trials Action Group report. The changes that will occur will boost pharmaceutical research and development and improve the clinical trials approval process.

Minister for Health and Ageing Nicola Roxon welcomed the report as an important driver in keeping Australian clinicians at the cutting edge of medical science.

“Clinical trials help patients benefit from the latest treatments available, which ultimately lead to better health outcomes for all Australians,” Minister Roxon said.

Releasing the report, Innovation Minister Senator Kim Carr said this important microeconomic reform will improve productivity and have benefits for patients, industry, researchers and governments.

“The new policies that will stem from this report will ensure Australia remains internationally competitive in clinical trials,” Senator Carr said.

The report recommends how to: make approval processes for clinical trials being conducted in different states and territories more efficient, increase the benefits to the health system that come from e-health reforms and encourage more people to be involved in clinical trials.

Highlighting the benefits for the health system and all Australians, Senator Carr said: “The industry estimates the annual economic worth of clinical trials to be in the order of $450 million. Trials provide a significant number of high-skill, high-wage jobs for Australians.”

Minister Roxon said the Gillard Government’s multibillion-dollar health reforms will drive better outcomes for patients and greater coordination across the health and hospital system, including for clinical trials.

The Australian Government’s Chief Medical Officer, Professor Jim Bishop, was a member of the Clinical Trials Action Group (CTAG) and chaired one of the expert reference groups. Professor Bishop acknowledged the contribution of all those who provided input to the report.

“Around 50 people were involved in the expert reference groups including clinicians, researchers, companies and state, territory and federal government officials. We also received more than 50 submissions from interested organisations and the public,” Professor Bishop said.