This week's Pfizer 'Invites' event featured an interesting expert discussion on pandemic preparedness. We answer lots of listener questions on that issue and other topics, including why the medical device and frankly all stakeholders should push for close parliamentary scrutiny of three pieces of new legislation.

It is the anniversary of the report of the parliamentary inquiry into approval processes for new medicines and medical technologies and still no government response, but we do have the outcome of the review of the base-case discount rate. They both say so much about the current state of policy-making in Australia. We also answer audience questions on top-down patient consultation and whether everyone should be watching what's happening with the medical device sector.

We discuss the response to the reports of a problematic culture at the heart of HTA decision-making, the need for greater alignment across the pharmaceutical, medical device and diagnostic sectors, and answer your questions about statutory price reductions and patient 'consultation' processes.

We are joined by Better Access Australia chair Felicity McNeill to respond to questions submitted by listeners and give a shout-out to one patient advocate who in one social media post articulated a clear critique of PBS decision-making. We also discuss why more HTA is not a solution to delays in funded access.

We discuss Monday's Post-Budget Summit and a discussion that revealed an opportunity for a refreshed approach to political engagement. Medicines Australia has a new set of directors who will need to deal with a long-standing challenge and a raft of issues with its new agreement with the federal government. Next week is Senate Estimates and we would like to hear from you.

A busy week with the Albanese government delivering its first Budget. The reduction in the general PBS co-payment was a centrepiece. The Senate backed the enabling legislation with a very subtle but powerful amendment that proves the importance of detail in advocacy. The amendment and how it was achieved is an important lesson for stakeholders in how they approach the much-anticipated HTA review.

We review this Budget week, how it has changed over the years and what else might be revealed by Treasurer Jim Chalmers. Are some Senators pushing to amend the proposed PBS co-payment reduction? How is it a good idea to reduce patient participation in post-market reviews and why the discussion on health technology assessment is the policy equivalent of 'quick sand'?

A new review of Australia's pandemic response confirms what we already knew about the failures in vaccine procurement and distribution, the new post-market review process removes patient consultation, it could be an interesting few weeks in the Senate for the PBS, the final days for companies to provide additional information in support of their case for relief from  April's 'catch-up' price reductions, and one week until the BPD Post-Budget Summit.

The 'Week in Review' includes a  special guest who discusses the 'indicative outcomes' communicated to companies seeking relief from next April's 'catch-up' price cuts, the implications for public health, what they say about a system 'under strain' and why change is urgently needed. There is also a discussion about the recommended lung cancer screening program and how it provides further evidence of everything that is wrong with health technology assessment.

The review discusses 'what now' after the industry has presented its evidence on the disputed implementation of the PBS pricing framework, the challenge of timing, the potential implications of the multinational tax review, and planning for the BPD Post-Budget Summit.