New treatments for various health conditions are constantly being researched and developed across the world. All Australian patients deserve to have access to the best treatments available but deciding which ones to approve here is not easy.

Our government looks carefully at the safety and efficacy of all treatments under consideration, along with a range of other factors, before deciding which treatments to approve and subsidise. They also closely consider views from the public on less tangible factors, such as how a new treatment could improve a patient’s life expectancy, quality of life or ability to earn money.

We take you through how the approval process works and how and why you can have your say about the treatments that affect you.