Access to affordable medicines

More than 110,000 Australians will benefit from better access to affordable medicines following the federal government’s approval of new and extended listings for medicines on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

Minister for Health, Tanya Plibersek, announced the new and extended listings last week, which include treatments for cancer, deep vein thrombosis and age-related macular degeneration.

“This has a simple but real benefit for patients. Instead of receiving eye injections every month, all patients will now have the option of using a medicine that only requires an injection every two months,” Ms Plibersek said.

Another medicine that has been extended is used for the treatment of kidney inflammation caused by lupus, a rare illness that is known to particularly affect the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population.

“The extended listing is another example of government and industry working together to bring essential medicines to highneed groups,” according to Ms Plibersek.

“This will ensure more patients have greater access to the medicines and treatment they need at subsidised prices,” she said.

The majority of new and extended listings will take effect from 1 December 2012. All PBS listings are subject to final arrangements being met by the suppliers of the medicines.

Among the new and extended listings are:

• Aflibercept (Eylea) – for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration

• Mycophenolate sodium (Myfortic) – for the treatment of kidney inflammation caused by lupus

• Aprepitant (Emend¨) – for the treatment of nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy for cancer

• Atenolol (Atenolol-AFT¨) – for the treatment of high blood pressure

• Ezetimibe with simvastatin (Vytorin¨) – for the treatment of high cholesterol

• Naloxone hydrochloride (Naloxone Min-I-Jet¨) – for the emergency treatment of opioid overdose

• Paraffin compound eye ointment (VitA-POS¨) – for the treatment of severe dry eye syndrome

• Rivaroxaban (Xarelto¨) – for the treatment of deep vein thrombosis (blood clots)

• Sodium hyaluronate (Hylo¨–Fresh) (Hylo¨–Forte) – for the treatment of severe dry eye syndrome

• Temozolomide (Temodal¨) – for the treatment of certain types of malignant brain cancer.

The government has also agreed to increase the price from 1 December 2012 of nine medicines  listed on the PBS. This will ensure essential medicines, including some to treat infertility and osteoporosis, continue to be available.

A full list of the price changes is available on the PBS website.