Submissions and Policy Updates
Therapeutic Goods Administration’s (TGA) consultation around medical devices and in particular the use of an Australian Unique Device Identification System.
Painaustralia welcomed the proposal noting that current regulations need overhauling. We also highlighted the pressing need for consumer education and awareness around the risks of medical devices and other alternatives treatments. Evidence points to a multidisciplinary approach where physical, psychological and social factors are all addressed, acknowledging the multifaceted and complex factors at play in chronic pain conditions.
Australian Medical Research Advisory Board (AMRAB)’s national consultation to inform the development of the second set of Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) Australian Medical Research and Innovation Priorities for 2020–2022.
Painaustralia recommended two key strategies to improve outcomes in pain research to make a difference for awareness, understanding and management of chronic pain in Australia:
- a targeted research strategy for pain
- a National Institute for Pain Research
National Palliative Care and End-of-Life Care Information Priorities consultation.
Overall, Painaustralia is supportive of the consultation document, which outlines a vision for national palliative care and end-of-life care information development over the next decade and articulates the priorities aimed at supporting that vision.
House of Representatives Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Sport as they inquire into the approval processes for new drugs and novel medical technologies in Australia (the Inquiry), with a particular focus on those for the treatment of rare diseases and conditions where there is high and unmet clinical need.
Painaustralia’s submission highlights that until we can provide consumers with access to affordable, best practice alternatives, medications will continue to play an important role in the management of chronic pain. It is important that our regulatory processes consider the needs for new and innovative pharmacological pathways for consumers. As many people living with chronic pain opt to self-medicate, it is vital that they continue to have access to new and emerging drugs and technologies that are evidence informed. Importantly, it is important that we consider more effective ways to ensure that consumer input is a crucial part of these approval processes.
Review of the Osteopathic Accreditation Standards Consultation paper.
Painaustralia’s submission highlighted the need for health practitioners to be well-informed on best-practice, evidence-based pain assessment and care and that they are supported to deliver this care. It also notes the National Action Plan and the objective within the Plan to develop an overarching education strategy. This should include, among other things, standardisation among universities in their teaching curricula with regard to pain management; and a focus on value-based healthcare as well as quality use of non-pharmacological approaches to pain management.
Public health challenges that span Australia: consultation reports from national obesity strategy released.
The National Obesity Strategy consultation has released reports that are now available from the consultation hub, including Painaustralia’s submission from the lived experience of consumers with chronic pain. Painaustralia’s submission to the consultation on the strategy highlights that the mechanism required for weight reduction already exists in the realm of pain medicine: most pain management clinics adopt comprehensive chronic pain rehabilitation strategies including physical rehabilitation, psychological therapies, diet and nutritional management and other interventions. The submission also highlighted the need to work together wherever possible to combine our efforts around these public health challenges.