Australian Government - Department of Health and Ageing

Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC)

Application 1011

Lung volume reduction surgery

Application No.

1011

Application NameLung volume reduction surgery
Advisory PanelDr Ross Blair
(Chair and MSAC members)
Dr Peter Adkins
(Royal Australian College of General Practitioners nominee)
Dr Allan Glanville
(co-opted)
Professor Guy Maddern
(ASERNIP-S representative)
Mr David Martin
(Consumer representative)
Professor Dick Ruffin
(Royal Australian College of Physicians and Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand nominee)
Mr Julian Smith
(Royal Australian College of Surgeons nominee)
Date Received by MSAC Secretariat1 March 1998
Stage 1 - EligibilityEligible
Stage 2 - AssessmentCompleted
Stage 3 - Formulation of Advice to the MinisterThis assessment was considered by the MSAC at the 28 February 2001 meeting.

The MSAC recommended that on the strength of evidence relating to lung volume reduction surgery;
  • public funding should not be supported for this procedure pending availability of overseas clinical trial data, which is expected in 2003
  • surgeons performing lung volume reduction surgery are advised to seek approval in principle to continue performing the procedure from their hospital ethics committee or equivalent
  • patients undergoing this procedure should be appropriately informed of the risks of lung volume reduction surgery; and
  • the Australian Health Ministers' Advisory Council be advised of this decision.
Stage 4 - DecisionEndorsed by the Minister for Health and Ageing 24 April 2001
Stage 5 - Implementation

Page currency, Latest update: 03 April, 2009