Steve Georganas (Adelaide, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This afternoon we will be welcoming patients from across Australia who are battling cancer and rare diseases at the Lung Foundation Australia event in Parliament House. Their resilience and determination are inspiring. One of those that couldn't make it here today is Lorraine Tyler. She is a fighter and one of my constituents. Lorraine couldn't make it here today due to her health. This government has a history of leading healthcare reforms, and we're doing it again. The Albanese government is conducting the first independent review of its kind in 30 years, the medicines access and health technology assessment review. This review is for cancer patients to have access to the right treatments at the right time, and we know how crucial this is.

I've assisted constituents, as many of us in this place have, in the fight to get access to lifesaving medications, but their battles have been ongoing and far more challenging. Globally, there are over 7,800 products in clinical development offering hope for better treatment. We stand on the brink of a new era in medicine, with potential for improved care across various conditions. To make this a reality, we need policy reforms for universal patient access. The HTA review aims to bring faster access to redefining the cost-effectiveness, but let's remember our responsibility to ensure better health care for all Australians like Lorraine Tyler and others that are here today. (Time expired)