Three fundamental features a Health Technology Assessment Organisation should possess and how the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee in Australia performs against each criterion

It has been projected that pharmaceutical expenditure shall be the fastest growing and largest component of the Australian health care budget over the next 50 years. Thus, the need for the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC), the Australian Pharmaceutical Health Technology Assessment Organisation (HTAO) to perform to its highest capability is paramount for the sustainability of public subsidisation of pharmaceuticals in Australia. The aim of this paper is to evaluate how well the PBAC, performs against three criteria, considered essential to maximise performance: independence, transparency and stakeholder inclusion, which will be evaluated by undertaking a review of the literature related to the PBAC. Recommendations regarding ways to improve the PBAC's performance will also be made.