Jill Hall (Shortland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Like previous speakers, I acknowledge the fact that the Therapeutic Goods Amendment Bill (No. 3) 2006 makes only minor amendments to the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989—section 37, to be exact. It allows manufacturers of medicines, blood and tissues to apply for a manufacturing licence electronically, using the Therapeutic Goods Administration’s e-business system. The amendment will make section 37 consistent with other similar provisions of the act that permit or require applications lodged for various purposes to be done electronically.

Given the broad-ranging nature of this debate to date, my contribution will be in a similar vein, although I would like to highlight a couple of aspects that this bill spends some time on. I will start with the fact that the TGA’s implementation of the new computerised system, called the manufacturer information system, to provide more efficient processing of different applications made to various areas of the TGA was introduced in 2004. It was designed to eliminate paperwork and to allow for electronic applications for manufacturing licences for medical products, certification by audit of overseas medicine manufacturers, variation to each of the above and clearance certificates of overseas medicines and manufacturers by assessment of GMP evidence provided by overseas regulatory bodies.

I think that within Health generally we need to put a lot more emphasis on streamlining the use of electronic sharing of information. Across all areas in Health, there has been a call for a greater use of electronic transfer of information using electronic systems to create much more efficient and effective ways of sharing information. When you look at the information that is shared, GPs have in place a system where they electronically transfer information between themselves and hospitals. Unfortunately, it has some problems, and also it breaks down when the information comes back the other way. But, more importantly, there is a breakdown in the transferring of medical information when it relates to specialists. Specialists have not embraced the use of electronic transfer of information in the same way that GPs have.

In an inquiry that I have been involved in with our House of Representatives Standing Committee on Health and Ageing the fact that there needs to be a greater use of electronic transfer of data using electronic systems has been identified as an issue. This has been brought to the committee’s attention by a number of the health experts—people like Scotton and Menadue, who are very influential in the area of health. Doctors have pointed out to us that it benefits the patient. So, as in this area, I think that all areas of health should encompass electronic transfer of information because it benefits all Australians. All Australians use health and medical products and all Australians at some time or another have a need for information to be transferred from one health provider to another health provider. So in commenting on the electronic lodgement of manufacturing licences it is important to highlight that there needs to be a greater use of electronic transfer of medical information and data within Australia.

The next issue I would like to touch on was raised by the shadow minister. It relates to pharmaceutical companies’ use of gifts and the influence that has on the price of pharmaceuticals and, I would argue, on the health outcomes in this country. On many occasions I have raised my concerns about this issue. It has been highlighted again very recently with reports of doctors being given expensive overseas trips and expensive meals and being entertained by the pharmaceutical companies. Roche is a company that has been in the news recently, but in all fairness I do not think we can say it is limited to Roche. I think there needs to be a much more transparent approach to dealings with pharmaceutical benefits and drug companies.

The whip on the other side of the chamber, the member for Blair, pointed to the details of this legislation. I remind the whip that all other contributions to this debate have been broad ranging, even to the extent that the member for Cowper was discussing the minister presenting certificates within his electorate. This legislation does refer to medicines.

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