Under the National Blood Agreement, interested parties can make proposals for changes to products or services on the National Product and Price List. Schedule 4 of the Agreement provides for evidence-based evaluation, information and advice to support decisions on these changes in the context of the primary and secondary objectives of the Agreement (see Appendix 2). The JBC is responsible for considering national blood supply change proposals; obtaining appropriate evaluation, information and advice; and making decisions on proposals in certain circumstances, or providing advice and recommendations on proposals to the SCoH.
The NBA developed a comprehensive framework for assessing products that addresses relevant policy considerations and the cost-effectiveness of the proposals on the blood sector and, where relevant, the wider health sector. This multi-criteria analysis framework quantifies consideration of each of the objectives of the National Blood Agreement and provides consistent rigour for the assessment process.
In 2010-11, the Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA) received funding for the development and implementation of an assessment process for blood and blood products, particularly matters of cost-effectiveness and clinical need, to help decide whether a product should be publicly funded. In March 2011, the JBC was advised that the Minister had determined that the Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC) had been approved to undertake the detailed cost-effectiveness analysis on behalf of the Commonwealth.
Findings from the MSAC assessment are expected to be shared with states and territories to inform the overall assessment under the NBA's multi-criteria analysis framework.
In September 2011, JBC members agreed to establish a working group to further examine the Schedule 4/multi-criteria analysis process and scenarios that may apply under the model, including the integration of the Schedule 4 processes with broader health sector reform initiatives. The working group comprises the Commonwealth and New South Wales representatives, and the NBA. As part of the group's activities, the Commonwealth engaged the Centre for Health Economics Research Evaluation (CHERE) at the University of Technology Sydney to develop a simple and feasible model to assess new product proposals for blood and blood related products. The model will consider the policy objectives of the National Blood Agreement, the Commonwealth procurement guidelines and broader government technology health technology assessment objectives and process. CHERE is finalising the report for consideration by the working group and the JBC.