AWMSG Training Day 2020

The Annual AWMSG Training Day was held on Wednesday, 15 January 2020 in Cardiff City Stadium. As well as the members and deputies of AWMSG and its two sub-groups, the New Medicines Group and the All Wales Prescribing Advisory Group, an invitation was extended to Medicines and Therapeutics Committees.

The key speaker was Professor Ceri Phillips, the new AWMSG Chair, who opened the day. Professor Phillips started by reflecting on the past achievements of AWMSG before setting out his vision of a new era for AWMSG. He highlighted the importance of increased collaborative working with other organisations and how he sees the role of AWMSG changing. After this, attendees worked in groups to brainstorm ways to address some key questions raised by Professor Phillips.

Mrs Eifiona Wood (Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Health Economics and Medicines Evaluation, Bangor University), spoke about the AWMSG process for assessing medicines for a rare disease and highlighted what’s new in the policy.

The event ended with a split session, where members went to presentations aimed at their groups. Dr Catrin Plumpton (Research Fellow, Centre for Health Economics and Medicines Evaluation, Bangor University) talked to AWMSG and NMG members about Markov models and how they are used for the economic evaluation of healthcare interventions. Dr Plumpton explained the theory, then attendees had the chance to do one themselves. Meanwhile, Dr Emily Holmes, (Research Fellow, Centre for Health Economics and Medicines Evaluation, Bangor University) talked to AWPAG members about the role of economics in guideline development and led a practical session on critical appraisal.

The Training Day was well received by attendees, and we are looking forward to AWMSG Training Day 2021.