Report Highlights Economic Impact of Delays
A major new report indicates that Australians face significant delays in accessing innovative cancer medicines, which affects productivity and economic benefits nationwide.
Community and Patient Preference Research (CaPPRe) released the report for the Medicines Australia Oncology Industry Taskforce. Titled ‘The Real Value of Innovative Cancer Treatments’, it outlines how delays lead to avoidable costs for patients, families, and the Australian economy.
Australians wait an average of 3.6 years for access to medicines through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), while these treatments are available in other OECD countries.
According to Medicines Australia CEO Liz de Somer, “When access is delayed, the consequences extend well beyond health outcomes. Productivity is lost, workforce participation declines, and families face significant financial pressure.”
Economic and Workforce Implications
The report emphasises that 40% of Australians diagnosed with cancer are of working age, with nearly half leaving the workforce post-diagnosis. This results in an estimated $1.7 billion in lost productivity every year.
Professor Tim Price, a medical oncologist, highlighted that treatment delays create ripple effects within families and the workforce, impacting caregiving and childcare responsibilities.
Patients interviewed for the report shared how timely access to innovative treatments allowed them to return to work and maintain their careers, demonstrating potential productivity benefits.
Health economist Associate Professor Colman Taylor stated, “When you broaden the perspective and include things like productivity, the economic proposition becomes very positive very quickly.”
Around 170,000 Australians are diagnosed with cancer annually. The report argues that delays in accessing treatments not only affect patients and their families but also employers and the broader economy.
One patient noted challenges during the wait for treatment: “My husband had used up sick leave, annual leave, long service leave. My siblings and parents used up their sick leave managing care responsibilities.”
The report concludes with a call for reforms in Australia’s health technology assessment and reimbursement framework to ensure faster access to innovative medicines, aligning with the Productivity Commission’s recommendations.
Last updated: 29 June 2026, 11:47 am
