Immunoglobulin (Ig) products provide critical therapy for people with immunodeficiencies and immune-type neurological conditions, but demand is growing and supply is limited, so it is important that these products are used appropriately.

To ensure demand can be met safely, equitably and affordably, there are strict eligibility rules about access to and use of government-funded Ig products. The rules are managed by the National Blood Authority, under its Immunoglobulin Governance Program.

The Value in Prescribing Program: Immunoglobulin Products consortium is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and works with the National Blood Authority.

 

Video: Value in Prescribing Program: Immunoglobulin Products

Former NPS MedicineWise CEO Adj Associate Professor Steve Morris and former National Blood Authority Deputy Chief Executive Michael Stone introduce the Value in Prescribing Program: Immunoglobulin Products.

 

Immunoglobulin treatment in Australia: governance and national policy

Immunoglobulin products provide critical therapy, and can be a life-saving treatment, for people with immunodeficiencies and some autoimmune disorders.

Immunoglobulin products cannot be manufactured synthetically – they are made from pooled plasma collected from thousands of blood donors. This means immunoglobulin products are a precious and valuable resource. Careful management is essential to ensuring that there is an adequate, secure, and affordable supply of immunoglobulin products for all Australians who need them.

The National Blood Authority (NBA) manages the supply of immunoglobulin products under the national blood arrangements on behalf of all Australian governments.

The NBA’s Immunoglobulin Governance Program aims to improve the governance of publicly funded Immunoglobulin to ensure that product use and management reflects appropriate clinical practice and represents efficient, effective, and ethical expenditure of government funds in accordance with relevant national safety and quality standards for healthcare. A national policy describes the roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders involved in the management and use of immunoglobulin under these arrangements.

These governance arrangements ensure immunoglobulin products are available to those who need and will benefit most from them.

Watch this video for an overview of immunoglobulin governance in Australia, including eligibility under the National Policy and how to make a request.

 

More about the program

The program will foster responsible stewardship of immunoglobulin products and ensure the viable and sustainable supply of Ig products in accordance with the National Policy, including the Criteria for the Clinical use of Immunoglobulin in Australia. Developing educational resources and initiatives to help patients and health professionals make safe and wise therapeutic decisions about using Ig products will also help health services to meet the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC) National Standard for Blood and Blood Products Safety and Quality.

Members of the consortium are:

The consortium’s Program Partner is the National Blood Authority.

Strategic advice, governance support and clinical input to the program is provided by The National Immunoglobulin Governance Advisory Committee (NIGAC). NIGAC is the peak committee established under the National Immunoglobulin Governance Program to provide and make recommendations to further strengthen immunoglobulin use in Australia. 

The consortium will engage with a range of stakeholders and experts including neurologists, immunologists and haematologists. Consultation with a wide range of specialty areas such as nurses, immunoglobulin product dispensers, and transfusion scientists will also inform program development. The program will also engage with consumers of immunoglobulin products, both patients and their carers, throughout the development of resources.

The educational resources, tools and interventions developed will support

  • specialist prescribers
  • dispensers of immunoglobulin products such as hospital pharmacists and transfusion scientists including laboratory scientists and technical officers
  • nurses, and
  • consumers.

The Value in Prescribing Program: Immunoglobulin Products will run over three years until June 2023.

Information developed through this program will be published and available through this website and through stakeholder and partner websites.

Read more about the grant here

 

What information will be available?

Information about the use of immunoglobulin products in Australia will include:

  • access and governance arrangements for the use of immunoglobulin products in Australia
  • information about the use of immunoglobulin products for
    - primary immune deficiency
    - secondary and acquired hypogammaglobulinaemia
    - chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy
    - myasthenia gravis
  • links to information on consortium, stakeholder and program partner websites.
 

What information and resources will be available for health professionals and health services?

Specialists and clinicians

The approved uses for immunoglobulin products are set out in the Criteria for the Clinical Use of Intravenous Immunoglobulin in Australia, but specialists must make daily decisions such as:

  • which individual patients are likely to benefit from immunoglobulin therapy?
  • what is an adequate response to therapy, and what are the indicators of success and failure?
  • for which patients would a trial of weaning and cessation be appropriate?

The content for this program will be developed based on current evidence and expert opinion to support clinical practice and decision-making across the course of immunoglobulin ordering, prescribing and delivery. Resources will include educational meetings, clinical content articles and decision support tools.

Dispensers of immunoglobulin products

Dispensers of immunoglobulin play a crucial role in supporting the safe, quality management and use of immunoglobulin products in health services and ensuring that the right immunoglobulin products are available for patients at the right time.

Educational resources and tools for dispensers and hospital pharmacists will be available on this website and through the Society of Hospital Pharmacists (SHPA) and other partner and stakeholder websites.

This includes online learning modules, webinars and case studies. These activities will:

  • facilitate operational efficiencies in the ordering, dispensing and reconciling of immunoglobulin products for use in accordance with current access arrangements and patient authorisation
  • provide evidence-based information on the role of immunoglobulins in the treatment of a range of neurological, immunological and haematological conditions.

Nurses

Nurses play a crucial role in educating and supporting patients who are being treated with immunoglobulin products.

This website will link to online learning modules, webinars and case studies with evidence-based information on:

  • access to and supply of immunoglobulin products
  • administration of these products
  • the role of immunoglobulins in treating a range of immunology, haematology and neurology conditions.

Hospital Drug and Therapeutics Committees

Information, tools and resources will support Drug and Therapeutics Committees to achieve good medicines governance and assist in policy framing.

Resources will include Guiding Principles and checklists designed to facilitate sustainable and appropriate use of immunoglobulin products.

 

What information and resources will be available for consumers?

Consumers will find clear information on Ig products and how they work on this site and on partner websites.

This will include fact sheets, videos, action plans and patient decision aids to help them:

  • work out what they want in their treatment and tell their doctors
  • build better relationships with their health professionals.
 

Useful NPS MedicineWise resources

Australian Prescriber – an independent peer-reviewed journal providing critical commentary on drugs and therapeutics for health professionals.

Choosing Wisely – a global health initiative that is enabling clinicians, consumers and healthcare stakeholders to start important conversations about tests, treatments and procedures, where evidence shows they provide no benefit, or in some cases, lead to harm.

RADAR – timely, independent, evidence-based information on new drugs and medical tests and changes to listings on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and Medicare Benefits Schedule.

MedicineWise app – a free app enabling consumer to keep track of medicines and access important health information. Funded by the Australian Government Department of Health.

VALUE IN PRESCRIBING PROGRAM – IMMUNOGLOBULIN PRODUCTS

Increasing the awareness and understanding amongst health professionals of access to immunoglobulin products in Australia, and improving health outcomes for patients through access to better health information to manage their health conditions. Funded by the Australian Government Department of Health through the Value in Prescribing Program: Immunoglobulins Products Grant.

Immunoglobulins explained

Find out more about how immunoglobulin products work and how they are provided to Australians.

 

Immunoglobulin fact sheets

Have you or someone you know been prescribed an immunoglobulin product?

This section contains some helpful information to help you at various stages of your treatment journey.

Immunoglobulins: Fact sheets

 

Immunoglobulin consumer videos

If immunoglobulins (antibodies) have just been prescribed for you or someone you know, you probably have questions about how to manage immune-related conditions, the impact on daily life, and how this treatment can help.

These short videos briefly describe treatment with immunoglobulin products to help you understand why immunoglobulin products have been prescribed, and feel reassured about this treatment.

Your healthcare team is the best place to start for information about the diagnosis and treatment of any condition. Talk to them if you have more questions about immunoglobulin products.

Find Immunoglobulin consumer videos here

VALUE IN PRESCRIBING PROGRAM – IMMUNOGLOBULIN PRODUCTS

Increasing the awareness and understanding amongst health professionals of access to immunoglobulin products in Australia, and improving health outcomes for patients through access to better health information to manage their health conditions. Funded by the Australian Government Department of Health through the Value in Prescribing Program: Immunoglobulins Products Grant.