[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Shadow Minister for Health Catherine King has stated that there are currently 18 drugs recommended by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee that the current Government have saidthey will never list. King also claimed, that at last count, there were more than 40 drugs that had been recommended by PBAC that were not listed.
King’s statement comes in response to the Government announcing an investment of more than $200 million to list four new breakthrough cancer treatments on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, saving patients up to a quarter of a million dollars a year. Almost 1,800 eligible patients with leukemia, advanced kidney cancer, bladder cancer and liver cancer will have new be able to access to scheme for the medicine.
The PBS was first introduced 65 years ago by the Chifley Labor Government and ensures all Australian citizens that listed medicines will be available for $40.30 for general patients and $6.50 for concession patients – regardless of what the drug would normally cost.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]