Berlin. The work in the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) can sometimes be sober. How sober was evident on Thursday afternoon at the second meeting of the fifth term of the highest body of joint self-government. About 20 minutes after the meeting began, the impartial chairman, Professor Josef Hecken, added item “8.2.10” to the agenda – and added that it was a “groundbreaking decision”.
Specifically, it was about updating the circle of those who have “the right to comment” on decisions on medicines according to Section 92 Paragraph 3a SGB V – such as there are: experts in medical and pharmaceutical science and practice, leading organizations of pharmaceutical companies, individual pharmacists companies, for example, of the G-BA decisions directly affected, as well as professional representatives of pharmacists and umbrella organizations of medical societies.
“Good to tell about our activities here”
Given that both the Federal Association of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers (BAH) and the Association of Pharmaceutical Importers in Germany (VAD) have renamed themselves – the former to Pharma Deutschland eV, the latter to Die Arzneimittel-Importeure eV – the G-BA plenary now had to take a decision to – yes, exactly – update the circle of organisations entitled to comment.
As expected, the decision of the “benches” and patient representatives was unanimous – and, added G-BA head Hecken with a smile, the decision was “good for telling about our activities here”, although he said that renaming the associations was “by no means” ridiculous to do. But the whole thing could have been a little less formal.
However, Hecken has not lost interest in the G-BA position: As is well known, the former Saarland Health Minister was recently confirmed by the German Bundestag’s Health Committee for a new term until 2030. And also on Thursday, Hecken declared right at the beginning of the meeting: “Life in the G-BA is beautiful.” Of course, sometimes you have to temper your expectations a little. (man)