Australia supporting safe, quality medicines in our region

The Albanese Government is supporting access to high-quality, safe, and effective medicines in the Pacific and Southeast Asia by investing $13.3 million in new partnerships between the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and governments in our region.

These partnerships will work to strengthen regulatory frameworks for medical products and help to increase the availability of safe and effective medicines, which will result in better-quality healthcare for communities.

This investment includes $1.3 million towards the Indonesia-Australia Contaminated Medicines and Vaccines Program, which will help address the systemic regulatory challenges of substandard and falsified medicines.

Today's announcement is part of the Australian Government's five-year $620 million Partnerships for a Healthy Region initiative, which supports partner countries to build resilient and equitable health systems.

It builds on work done during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Australia played a key role in our region supporting partner governments, especially in Southeast Asia, to access life-saving vaccines and medical supplies.

Australia is listening to the region's needs and is committed to working with our partners to address our shared health challenges. This in turn contributes to regional prosperity and stability.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Foreign Affairs, Penny Wong:

“Improving the health and wellbeing of communities across our region, including through better access to safe and effective medicines, is critical to ensuring our shared prosperity and security.

“These new partnerships between the TGA and regional governments will help achieve the best possible health outcomes for the peoples of the Pacific and Southeast Asia.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Health and Aged Care, Mark Butler:

“Australia's investment in the health of our region is an important contribution to the Pacific and Southeast Asia's recovery from COVID-19.

“I'm pleased the TGA is partnering with the Indonesian Food and Drug Authority to jointly tackle the challenge of substandard and falsified medicines.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Pat Conroy:

“Strong, resilient and responsive health systems are an essential part of sustainable development.

“Australia has long supported strengthening health systems through our international development program.

“Partnerships for a Healthy Region demonstrates our ongoing commitment to our partner countries in this critical sector.”