Aussie HIV/AIDS Groups Protest Coverage Delays For Hepatitis B Tests
This article was originally published in PharmAsia News
Executive Summary
HIV/AIDS groups in Australia accuse the federal government of unnecessarily delaying for at least six years approval of coverage for a diagnostic for hepatitis B. The government relies on its Medical Services Advisory Committee to recommend federal funding for medical procedures based on their safety and effectiveness. Recently the HIV/AIDS and other groups have complained about the panel's lack of accountability for its approvals process. The HIV/AIDS groups noted it took three years to approve a procedure for determining a patient's hepatitis B viral load because the panel lost paperwork. (Click here for more