Australian Therapeutic Goods Advisory Council meeting statement, Meeting 1, 22 November 2012

Record of issues

The Australian Therapeutic Goods Advisory Council (the Council) held its inaugural meeting on 22 November 2012.

The main purpose of this meeting was to provide members with background information that will assist them in their role of providing strategic advice to the TGA. Topics considered included the development and implementation of the TGA Blueprint reforms, including the establishment of the Australian New Zealand Therapeutic Products Agency.

Members discussed issues around medicines supply shortages in Australia including potential roles for government and industry in implementing strategies for managing these issues.

Members also discussed a draft TGA External Communication and Education Framework, which encompasses TGA's proposed approach to providing:

• better information that is easily understood by consumers;
• therapeutic goods information that can be received and shared by health professionals; and
• greater certainty on regulatory arrangements for the therapeutic goods industry.

In order to ensure the continued success of TGA communication and education activities, members of the Council have offered to provide advice on communication priorities and strategies at future meetings, including whether or not the needs and expectations of consumers, healthcare professionals and the therapeutic goods industry are being met.

Next meeting

The next meeting of the Council is scheduled for 5 February 2013 in Canberra.

For further information on the Council, please contact the Secretary:

Email: atgac@tga.gov.au