Cancer drugs driving PBS cost blowout

[Paul Edwards]

"SUBSIDIES for high-cost cancer drugs are growing faster than for other medicines, an analysis shows.

Chemotherapy costs rose from $84 million in 2009-10 to $586 million last financial year, a parliamentary paper shows.

An annual 63 per cent growth in the cost far exceeded that of other medicines." Border Mail 25 January 2015

 

The current chemotherapy funding arrangements expire on 30 June 2015.  What will happen after that date? Will the Abbott Government place restrictions on future funding of chemotherapy?

 

Tell the politicians that cancer medicines, including chemotherapy drugs, should be available to ordinary Australians under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.  Those with the highest medical need often have the least capacity to purchase medicines — particularly high cost medicines.

 

There are only 3  days left to make a submission to the Senate Inquiry about access to cancer drugs and the operation of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

 

It's easy to make a submission.  

 

Click on this link to find out how to make a submission.