New cardiovascular disease medication available for $42

A new medication has been added to the pharmaceutical benefits scheme, making it easier for patients to access.

30-11-2022 Brenda Credlin pictured at home in Portarlington has struggled with cholesterol issues for more than 20 years. She is now trying a new treatment which is about to be added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. Picture: Brad Fleet

Australians at heightened risk of heart disease will now be able to access a life saving drug for just $42 through their doctor.

Portarlington woman Brenda Credlin has lived with high cholesterol for more than 20 years and had a triple bypass in 1996.

The now 77-year-old has taken cholesterol lowering medication daily since the surgery but has suffered differing side effects.

Recently Mrs Credlin started taking repatha, a drug she found beneficial, but which was difficult to access and cost patients like her thousands of dollars each year.

From December 1 that medication will be available as part of the pharmaceutical benefits scheme (PBS) and cost just $42 a script.

Mrs Credlin welcomed the addition of the drug to the scheme and said repatha would now be an accessible long-term treatment option for her.

“I’ve been on multiple medications during that time and have had to switch to different ones because of the side effects … the last one gave me severe leg pain,” Mrs Credlin said.

“It’s frustrating because you think it’s working and then one day it isn’t.”

The grandmother said the medication would allow her to spend more time with her seven grandchildren.

General practitioner Dr Charlotte Hespe the addition of the drug to the PBS would ensure improved accessibility to those who need it.

“Previously you had to be referred to a cardiologist for a review and they needed to’tick boxes’ to show that each person was in the required category to be eligible for a prescription,” Dr Hespe said.

“There were lots of barriers, which sometimes made patients wary and scared – or not proceed due to the costs of the consultation and difficulty in access.

“Now that GPs can initiate treatment with repatha, it’s going to be seen as more mainstream and definitely more accessible.”

She said there were many barriers to getting a prescription for the medication which made patients wary or scared of the process.

Dr Hespe saw some patients not proceed with getting the medication do to the costs of the consultation and difficulty in access.

“Now that GPs can initiate treatment with Repatha, it’s going to be seen as more mainstream and definitely more accessible,” Dr Hespe said.

Cardiovascular disease is Australia’s number one killer and claims one life every 18 minutes – about 40,000 Australians every year.

Originally published as New cardiovascular disease medication available for $42