Pharmaceutical Benefit Advisory Committee: Members: Re-Appointment

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A decision made 2 April 2013:

Decision Reference: MD-S-2013-0028
Decision Summary Title :	Re-appointment of members -Pharmaceutical Benefit Advisory Committee		Date of Decision Summary:	2 April 2013
Decision Summary Author:	Business Manager		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt?	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:	N/A
Written Report Title :	Re-appointment of members - Pharmaceutical Benefit Advisory Committee		Date of Written Report:	2 April 2013
Written Report Author:	Business Manager		Written Report : Public or Exempt?	Public
Subject: Re-appointment of members - Pharmaceutical Benefit Advisory Committee (PBAC)
Decision(s): The Minister approved the re-appointment of existing members of the PBAC until 11 April 2014.
Reason(s) for Decision: The Pharmaceutical Benefit Advisory Committee (PBAC) is a Statutory Body within the Health Insurance legislation. Under the Health Insurance (Jersey) Law, 1967, the Social Security Minister is responsible for the inclusion or deletion of products from the Approved List of Pharmaceutical preparations. The Prescribed List details all medicines, drugs, appliances or materials that are subsidised under the Health Insurance Scheme, for use by general practitioners for the treatment of patients. However, prior to taking decisions, the Minister must consult with the PBAC. Under the Health Insurance (Jersey) Law, 1967, the PBAC was formed to review new medicines and to advise the Minister as to what products/medicines should be added or removed from the Prescribed List (Jersey). The Chairman and other appointed members of the Advisory Committee hold office for a period of 12 months ending on the twelfth day of April and are eligible for re-appointment.
Resource Implications: There are no additional resource implications.
Action required: Business Manager to notify the States Greffe that the existing PBAC members have been re-appointed until 11 April 2014 as per the attached schedule. Business Manager to notify the proposed Committee members that their re-appointment is approved.
Signature:		Position: Minister
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):

Pharmaceutical Benefit Advisory Committee: Members: Re-Appointment

Re-appoinment of members of the Pharmaceutical benefit Advisory Committee

1. SUMMARY

The Pharmaceutical Benefit Advisory Committee (PBAC) is a Statutory Body within the Health Insurance legislation. The chairman and other appointed members of the Advisory Committee shall hold office for a period of 12 months ending on the twelfth day of April and are eligible for re-appointment. Under the Health Insurance (Jersey) Law, 1967, the Social Security Minister is responsible for the inclusion or deletion of products from the Approved List of Pharmaceutical preparations. However, prior to taking decisions, the Minister must consult with the PBAC.

2. BACKGROUND

The Prescribed List details all medicines, drugs, appliances or materials that are subsidised under the Health Insurance Scheme, for use by general practitioners for the treatment of patients.

Before recommending the addition (or deletion) of a drug, the PBAC considers whether the product is one appropriate for use in mainstream general practice, using a number of evaluation criteria.

* efficacy (the effectiveness of the drug)

* the safety profile of the product

* the range of similar drugs already available

* relevant prescribing algorithms/protocols (e.g. NICE guidelines)

* prescribing data available from the hospital

* other routes of supply

Cost is also considered, but secondary to the proven value of the drug and is viewed in light of the overall benefit of therapy. The best therapy may be more expensive through primary care, but reduce overall costs by cutting down on hospital treatment or medical complications at a later stage. However, the PBAC is always mindful as to whether the ongoing cost is sustainable by the Health Fund.

The constitution of the PBAC is such as to ensure that a wide aspect of professional views is considered under a lay chair. The Chair, the representative of the Social Security Department and the Pharmaceutical Adviser are appointed by the Minister. The Chief Pharmacist and Medical Officer of Health are statutory positions. The general practitioners and community pharmacists elect three and two representatives respectively.

The Chairman, appointed by the Minister, is a lay person appointed to represent the views of the informed general public.

3. RECOMMENDATION

The Minister is asked to re-appoint the following members of the PBAC for one year until 11 April 2014 as follows:

Vacant post - to be recruited Chair

Approved Medical practitioners

Dr C Budd

Dr D Balbes

Dr A Vincent

Approved Pharmacists

Mr G Jones

Mr B Eden

Representatives of the Social Security Department

Mr J Scott Finance & Governance Director - Social Security

Mr P McManus Pharmaceutical Adviser

NB. The Medical Officer of Health and the Chief Pharmacist are ex officio members of the PBAC.