Roche Oncology & Haematology in partnership with health consumer organisations
The forum, Advances in Cancer Therapy and Implications for Australia brought together cancer related health consumer organisations, and was designed to allow discussion around issues of common interest including key areas of currently unmet need in cancer. Sixteen people, representing various health consumer organisations including patient advocacy groups, attended the Forum on
Roundtable sessions covered previously identified areas of concern, including access to clinical trials, timely access to therapy, communicating with people with cancer, and addressing the treatment, information and support needs of people with cancer.
In addition to the roundtables, a number of informative presentations relevant to the above topics were held during the Forum.
- Setting the Scene: Where do drugs fit into cancer treatment? (Dr Fran Boyle, Medical Oncologist,
- Biotechnology Innovation in Cancer: the changing face of therapy (Dr Nick Gough, Biotechnology Consultant, Nick Gough and Associates)
- An overview of pharmaceutical drug development (Dr John Bower, Medical Manager, Roche)
- Working within the regulatory environment and the PBS process (Ms Grace Malanos, Health Economics Manager, Roche)
- The Free Trade Agreement and new PBAC review process (Ms Natalie Pavuk, Competitive Advantage Group Manager, Roche)
- From bench to bedside…don’t hold your breath (Dr Fran Boyle, Medical Oncologist,
- Accessing cancer drugs - the consumer perspective (Ms
The Forum was action-orientated and resulted in a number of specific outcomes in relation to the four topics discussed.
Key outcomes:
- A planning meeting to be held with all relevant stakeholders around
- Discussion with key stakeholders to ascertain interest in forming a group of interested parties to advance cancer policy in
Other outcomes:
Roche to enhance information provision by:
- ensuring consumer groups have input into support materials
- developing Q&As on all products, including diagrams and pictures
- providing information in other languages
- promoting Roche's medical information service
- developing a list of commonly used oncology drugs, for use by cancer help lines
- providing a regular Roche oncology newsletter for health consumer organisations
- producing a Glossary of Health Economic Terms: an easy reference guide to health economic terms used in the drug reimbursement process
- establishment of a 1800 freecall number for access to the Roche Medical Information service
- inclusion of the Roche Medical Information 1800 phone number on all product information and materials - consumer medicine information, patient information and other materials
- creating a credit card-size wallet card of relevant contact information for people with different types of cancer who are prescribed Roche products
Overall, the forum provided a valuable opportunity for the different HCO representatives to communicate with each other and with industry representatives. The group was able to agree on several outcomes, which are of interest to all involved parties. Action items were identified and these will be followed up to ensure that, with the collaboration of all groups, the discussion will move forward into successful outcomes that ultimately benefit people with cancer.
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