Cost of some life-saving drugs to be slashed from Sunday

Changes to the PBS could save some Australians as much as $2.5 million per treatment, as others wait up to eight years for medications to be subsidised.

Australians battling some of the most-painful medical conditions will have the cost of their life-saving medicines slashed from Sunday – saving some as much as $2.5 million per treatment.

More than 2000 Aussies suffering from eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE) – an inflammatory condition of the food pipe that can cause pain and difficulty swallowing and chest pain – will have the price of their medication slashed from $5000 a year to just $42.50 per script or $6.80 for concession holders.

The treatment – Jorveza – is one of a number of medications to be listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) from Sunday, joining Zolgensma, which will save the families of around 20 young patients less than nine-months old suffering from spinal muscular atrophy more than $2.5 million per treatment.

Triple-negative breast cancer treatment Trodelvy will also be added, saving patients $80,000 per year, as well as lung disease medication Ofev, saving 1400 Australians about $40,000 a year.

Patricia, 58, has struggled with EoE-related symptoms for more than four decades. Picture: Supplied

$16.5 BILLION INVESTED

Health Minister Greg Hunt said the federal government had invested more than $16.5 billion into the PBS since 2013.

“The government’s commitment to ensuring Australians can access affordable medicines when they need them remains rock solid,” Mr Hunt said.

Gastroenterologist Dr Sanjay Nandurkar, who co-authored an article urging early diagnosis and treatment of those living with EoE, said the subsidised medication is crucial in the prevention of permanent oesophagus damage.

“Today’s PBS listing of a new treatment for Australians living with EoE will improve treatment access for Australian adults living with the disease,” he said.

EoE patient Dave, 46, was diagnosed in 2015 after experiencing difficulty while swallowing and severe chest pain for more than a year.

He has since trialled a range of treatments and said the process had taken its toll on his mental health and wellbeing.

“Given EoE is a really complicated, long-term disease with no known cure, being able to effectively manage the symptoms of the disease with treatment is crucial,” he said.

Gastroenterologist Dr Sanjay Nandurkar said subsidised medications are crucial. Picture: Supplied

NO FAST-TRACK

But, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has failed to commit to fast-tracking the process of adding life-improving and lifesaving medications to the PBS after News Corp revealed on Saturday some patients were waiting up to eight years for medicines to be subsidised.

On Saturday, Mr Morrison was questioned why new analysis by Medicines Australia showed it took an average of 496 days to add cancer medication to the PBS and heart medicine 528 days from the time they are approved for use.

“Australia has, I would argue, one of the most successful and regulatory systems on medicines anywhere in the world,” Mr Morrison said.

“Doctors and clinicians … define and decide whether these medicines should go forward and go on to the PBS. That’s not decided by the government.

“We will always encourage them to try to do this as quickly and efficiently as they can.”

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