Doctor Suzanne Hill has been appointed as the new chair of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC), the independent advisory group which recommends listing of medicines on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

 

Dr Hill will succeed Professor Lloyd Sansom as chair of PBAC from 9 September 2011.

 

Dr Hill currently works for the World Health Organization in Geneva, in the Department of Medicines Policy and Standards, and was previously Associate Professor, Clinical Pharmacology at the University of Newcastle.

 

The PBAC comprises doctors, other health professionals and a consumer representative and makes recommendations to the Australian Government about PBS listings after considering safety, clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of medicines for intended use compared with other available treatments.