Pharmacy Daily | New ‘life-changing’ listings on the PBS

AUSTRALIANS who have advanced ovarian cancer, chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL), cystic fibrosis and atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome (aHUS), now have access to cheaper medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

Olaparib (Lynparza) will be expanded for eligible Australian women with newly diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer, Acalabrutinib (Calquence) will be expanded to treat patients with previously untreated CLL or SLL, lumacaftor with ivacaftor (Orkambi) will be expanded to include treatment of one-year-old infants with cystic fibrosis for the F508del mutation, and Ravulizumab (Ultomiris) will be expanded to treat patients with aHUS, a very rare genetic disease where the body's defence system attacks vital organs, blood cells and vessels.

According to a statement from the office of the Minister for Health Mark Butler (pictured), patients were previously paying anywhere between $96,700 & $384,800 per year for these treatments.

"The Albanese Government is committed to making medicines cheaper and more affordable for all Australians," Butler said.

"These life-changing listings will have a profound impact on people's lives - and the lives of the people around them.

"Alongside cheaper prescriptions, 60-day scripts and encouraging more doctors to bulk bill, we are making health care more affordable and easing the cost of living burden for everyday Australians."

Since Jul 2022, the Australian Government has approved extra funding for 159 new and amended listings on the PBS.

Meanwhile, in a press conference yesterday, Butler defended the crackdown on vapes when asked by a journalist whether he was worried it would increase cigarette smoking.

"We're very alive to the risk of vaping being a gateway to smoking cigarettes," he said.

Butler added that research showed young vapers are increasingly likely to take up cigarettes than non-vapers.

"That's why, in addition to the strong action we are taking on vaping, we are also taking very strong action against cigarettes."

"That legislation only passed the parliament in the last week for two of the 2023 sittings," he said. DF