Gippslanders will benefit from expanded access to life changing medicines on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), giving further support to patients and their families.
Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester said from today, new medicines for people suffering from breast cancer, lung cancer, osteoporosis and asthma will be available and give patients new hope with landmark new and amended medicine listings.
The new PBS listings effective from April 1, 2021 include:
- Kisqali (ribociclib) in combination with Fulvestrant Sandoz (fulvestrant), a medicine for patients with hormone receptor positive (HR+) and human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER2-) unresectable advanced metastatic breast cancer. Over 19,900 new cases of breast cancer were diagnosed in 2020. Without the PBS subsidy, around 1,600 patients might pay more than $50,000 per course of treatment. Instead they will now pay $41.30 per script or $6.60 for concession.
- Fulvestrant Sandoz (fulvestrant), is also being made available on the PBS for the first time as monotherapy, for the treatment of hormone receptor positive (HR+) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative (HER2-) advanced breast cancer. Without PBS subsidy, over 100 patients might pay more than $7,900 per course of treatment.
- Opdivo (nivolumab) and Yervoy (ipilimumab), will support over 130 Australians with previously untreated squamous Stage IV non-small cell lung cancer to be used in combination with chemotherapy. Patients would otherwise pay over $100,000 per course of treatment without subsidy.
- Dupixent (dupilumab), a new treatment option for around 1,700 Australians suffering from uncontrolled severe eosinophilic or allergic asthma. Australians with these severe forms of Asthma will save around $20,600 per year through the PBS listing.
- Atectura Breezhaler (indacaterol + glycopyronum + mometasone), will also provide a new treatment option for other severe forms of asthma for over 80,000 Australians suffering from this chronic disease with patients saving around $400 per year through this PBS listing.
- Evenity (Romosozumab), is being listed on the PBS for the first time, for the treatment of severe osteoporosis in patients, providing relief to 2,800 Australians. Patients may save around $6,300 per course of treatment.
Mr Chester said each of the medicines had been recommended to be added to the PBS by the independent Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee.
“Without these subsidises many Australians would be out of pocket thousands of dollars per treatment, instead, for all the medicines listed or extended on April 1, patients will only have to pay $41.30 per script or $6.60 with a concession card,” Mr Chester said.
“Since 2013, the Federal Government has approved more than 2,600 new or amended listings on the PBS.
“This represents an average of around 30 listings or amendments per month at an overall investment of $13 billion by the Government.
“The Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring that Australians can access affordable medicines, when they need them, remains rock solid.”