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Productivity gains lost as Australians wait years for access to innovative cancer medicines

Medicines Australia Oncology Industry Taskforce

A major new report has found Australia is missing significant productivity, workforce and economic benefits because cancer patients are waiting years to access innovative medicines already available in comparable countries.

 

Released today by Community and Patient Preference Research (CaPPRe) on behalf of the Medicines Australia Oncology Industry Taskforce, The Real Value of Innovative Cancer Treatments: The Impact of Timely Access on Productivity and the Lives of Australians report highlights how delays in access to innovative cancer medicines are creating avoidable costs for patients, families, employers, the healthcare system and the broader economy.

 

The report builds on the recent Productivity Commission finding that innovative cancer therapies are a major contributor to Australia's productivity growth. According to the Commission’s research, healthcare productivity has grown by around 3 per cent annually, and new cancer therapies are a major contributor to that growth, primarily through improved survival and quality of life outcomes.[1]

 

Yet despite the proven value of innovation, Australians currently wait an average of 3.6 years for funded Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) access to medicines available overseas, with only one in four new medicines available in OECD countries being funded in Australia.[2]

 

Medicines Australia CEO Liz de Somer said Australia could not afford to ignore the productivity consequences of delayed access.

 

"When people can access effective cancer treatments in a timely way, they are more likely to be able to remain in work, care for their families, contribute to their communities and avoid costly hospitalisations,” Ms de Somer said.

 

"But when access is delayed, the consequences extend well beyond health outcomes. Productivity is lost, workforce participation declines and families are placed under significant and often sustained financial pressure.

 

"This challenge is becoming increasingly important as around 40 per cent of Australians diagnosed with cancer are of working age. Almost half leave the labour force following diagnosis, contributing to an estimated $1.7 billion in lost productivity each year," said Ms de Somer.[3]

 

With around 170,000 Australians diagnosed with cancer each year,[4] the report argues the consequences of delayed access to innovative cancer treatments are being felt not only by patients and their families, but also employers and the broader economy.

 

One patient interviewed for the report said whilst she waited for access to treatment: "My husband had used up sick leave, annual leave, long service leave. My siblings had used up their sick leave, and my parents had used up their sick leave with attempts to manage caring responsibilities. My mum stepped down to part-time work and then left her career."

 

Medical oncologist Professor Tim Price says delays in access to treatment can create ripple effects throughout families and the workforce: "I very often have patients who actually are the childcare providers for their family. If the grandparents are unable to provide that childcare, then it has a flow-on effect."

 

The report also highlights growing evidence that innovative cancer medicines can improve productivity by helping Australians remain healthy enough to participate in work, caregiving and community life.

 

Patients interviewed described returning to work, maintaining highly specialised careers, supporting family members and re-engaging with their communities because of access to innovative treatments.

 

One patient said: "I was very grateful to be able to return to work and I feel like I really do contribute to the Australian community. I'm one of only 60 people in Australia currently with my qualification."

 

Health economist Associate Professor Colman Taylor says the value of innovative medicines extends beyond traditional healthcare measures: "When you broaden the perspective and include things like productivity, what often happens is the economic proposition becomes very positive very quickly."

 

Ms de Somer said the evidence for reform is compelling.

 

“Australia's health technology assessment and reimbursement framework must evolve to better recognise the broader productivity and societal benefits of innovative medicines and ensure Australians can access new treatments sooner,” Ms de Somer said.

 

“The government's own Productivity Commission has recommended faster access to pharmaceutical and medical technologies to ensure the 'diffusion of new treatments remains a positive contributor to productivity growth'. This report demonstrates what that means in practice for Australian patients, families and workplaces.

 

“If productivity is a national priority, then ensuring Australians can access innovative cancer medicines in a timely way must be part of the solution."

 

The report can be accessed here: https://www.medicinesaustralia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/65/2026/06/The-Real-Value-of-Innovative-Cancer-Treatments-small.pdf

 

ENDS

Media enquiries to:

Jonathan Hawkes, Senior Media Advisor – [email protected] or 0434 660 801

 

Nicki Sambuco, SenateSHJ

[email protected] or 0452 446 084

 

 

About Medicines Australia

Medicines Australia leads the research-based pharmaceutical industry of Australia. Our members discover, develop and manufacture the medicines that are the foundation of a healthy and prosperous society, including prescription pharmaceutical products, biotherapeutic products and vaccines. Our members invest in Australian medical research and take local discoveries and developments to the world.

 

 

About the Oncology Industry Taskforce

 

The Medicines Australia Oncology Industry Taskforce comprises 13 pharmaceutical companies committed to improving access to cancer medicines for Australians. It was formed in late 2012 in response to increasing challenges in gaining reimbursement for cancer medicines in Australia. Unfortunately, these challenges remain. In 2024, more than half of new cancer medicines that have shown a benefit over existing treatments that were submitted for reimbursement consideration were rejected.

 

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