HELP ON THE WAY FOR LUNG CANCER PATIENTS

Hundreds of families across Australia will save close to $90,000 each year from a $96 million investment our Government is making to ensure lung cancer medicine is affordable.

Federal Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta said help is on the way for around 400 patients diagnosed with lung cancer with our Government listing Tagrisso® (Osimertinib) on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) from 1 February.

“Patients would pay close to $8,000 per script or almost $88,000 per year for this treatment without subsidised access through the PBS,” Mr Vasta said.

“Thanks to our investment, the price drops to just $40.30 per script, or $6.50 for concessional patients.”

“We can fund life-saving medicines like this because we’re delivering on our plan for a stronger economy and bringing the Budget back to balance.”

Health Minister Greg Hunt said subsidising medicines like Tagrisso means patients can manage their cancer at home rather than visiting the hospital for chemotherapy.

“Unlike Labor who ran the Budget into the ground and couldn’t afford to subsidise lifesaving medicines, this is the latest of nearly 2000 PBS listings worth around $10.5 billion we’ve been able to make since we came to government,” Minister Hunt said.

“This PBS listing was recommended by the independent Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC).”

“Our Government continues to list every drug on the PBS approved by the PBAC to ensure that new, essential medicines are affordable for all Australians.”

“In the Budget update our Government delivered an extra $1.4 billion for new medicines, saving sick Australians hundreds or even thousands of dollars a year.

Federal Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta said our strong economic management means we are providing Australian patients with access to life-saving and life-changing medicines quicker than ever before.

“We are now making on average one new or amended PBS listing every single day,” Mr Vasta said.

“Our commitment to the PBS is rock solid. Together with Medicare, it is a foundation of our world-class health care system.”