About WADEP

The Western Australian Drug Evaluation Panel (WADEP) was established in August 2002 with the object of providing WATAG with recommendations on the clinical and cost-effectiveness of new drugs having a high cost impact on the WA health system. WADEP considers new drug submissions to facilitate the uniform listing of high-cost drugs at public hospitals in Western Australia. This process ensures equity of access to high-cost drugs for public hospital patients, and introduces a defined process and rigorous mechanism for managing new drug listings.

The Panel considers submissions for hospital formulary listing of high-cost and high-volume drugs, as well as highly specialised drugs or where there is significant variation in access to a particular drug across hospital sites. To ensure there is a clinical need for a new drug or indication, a submission must be initiated by a clinical consultant. Applicants are encouraged to liaise with the Australian manufacturer or supplier to ensure relevant economic data and clinical evidence is submitted. High-cost drug submissions are initially made via a hospital Drug and Therapeutics Committee, or its surrogate, and are then submitted to WATAG for referral to WADEP. WADEP will normally only consider registered drugs, but unregistered drugs may be considered where their use has implications for clinical outcomes and cost-effective drug use in Western Australia.