May 19 2016
The National Medicines Symposium 2016 has opened in Canberra today with a keynote address from Dr Stefan Hajkowicz, Senior Principal Scientist from the CSIRO on the megatrends reshaping our world over the coming twenty years, with an emphasis on the importance of innovation and using existing resources more efficiently.
Leading local and international health sector experts and health professionals have converged on Canberra to take part in the ninth National Medicines Symposium: Making wise decisions about medicines, tests and technologies.
In his opening plenary presentation, Dr Hajkowicz identified rising chronic disease, the ageing population and related health sector challenges as some of the key health trends to impact upon our world in the coming years.
He also reflected on the value of interaction between individuals and the importance of human experiences in an automation-filled future.
Dr Lynn Weekes, CEO of NPS MedicineWise, welcomed delegates from different health and academic sectors and encouraged them to participate in debates and creative discussions over the next two days.
"The National Medicines Symposium is a keynote event for our sector and an opportunity to hear from leaders within our sector but also from other disciplines, and to help inform our thinking as stewards of the healthcare system now and into the future."
A panel of experts including Dr Weekes, Professor Andrew Wilson, Chair, Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee, Dr Frank Jones, President, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Adjunct Professor John Skerritt, Deputy Secretary, Regulatory Services Group, Australian Government Department of Health, Professor Lloyd Sansom, Emeritus Professor, School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia, and Leanne Wells, CEO, Consumers Health Forum of Australia discussed the foundations of good health decision making and set the scene for rest of the symposium.
"It's clear from discussions already that consumer co-design, integrated systems, sharing of data and sound regulatory and policy frameworks are building blocks for the health system of the future," says Dr Weekes.
"This is a pivotal time with the current reviews and thinking underway to transform the health system and NMS is a great platform to spark these conversations."