High cost medicine reviews

The Statewide Formulary for High Cost Medicines aims to ensure that eligible patients will have equal opportunity to receive a high cost medicine based upon their clinical condition rather than where they live or what hospital they attend. 

All public hospitals must comply with the SA Health Statewide Formulary for High Cost Medicines policy (PDF 281KB) to enhance equity of access within the South Australian public health system. 

Application process

Formulary applications for high cost medicines should be forwarded to your hospital Drug & Therapeutics Committee. The application should be signed by the Chair of the committee and then forwarded to South Australian Medicines Evaluation Panel (SAMEP) for review. Further information on submitting a formulary application, see the Information for clinicians on submitting a formulary application for a High Cost Medicine (PDF 1377KB) is provided on the following form. SAMEP will then undergo a systematic process of evaluating the medicine for safety, clinical efficacy and cost-effectiveness. SAMEP will consult with specialist clinicians and seek additional external expertise if required.

Medicines under review

If you are require a high cost medicine for a single use, please refer to the Individual patient use (IPU) of high cost medicines page.

Further information

For further information on Statewide Formulary for High Cost Medicines, contact the South Australian Medicines Evaluation Panel.

Completed reviews

For a list of completed review, see the Completed high cost medicine reviews page.

Medicines in review

The following medicines are currently being reviewed by the South Australian Medicines Evaluation Panel

  • Luspatercept for beta thalassemia.
  • Letermovir for prophylaxis of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant
  • Cenobamate for drug resistant focal epilepsy
  • Andexanet alpha for reversal of anticoagulation with a direct factor Xa inhibitor
  • Tocilizumab for patients with giant cell arteritis not meeting PBS criteria