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Home > Ministers > The Hon Nicola Roxon MP - Minister for Health and Ageing > Media Hub > New PBS Listings Help Fight Life Threatening Illnesses

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PDF printable version of New PBS Listings Help Fight Life Threatening Illnesses (PDF 20 KB)

1 February 2011

The Gillard Government today announced a boost to the fight against life-threatening conditions with the listing of new drugs on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

From today, changes to the PBS will extend the lives of those suffering from some rare bone marrow disorders, provide more support to men with prostate conditions as well as give kids with protein intolerances a helping hand.

• Azacitidine, Powder for injection, 100mg, (Vidaza) will help extend the lives of over 670 Australians suffering from bone marrow disorders. Azacitidine is now listed on the PBS as a Section 100 Highly Specialised Drug for the treatment of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), a rare blood disorder that causes the bone marrow to form abnormal blood cells and can turn into a fast-growing cancer of the bone marrow.

• Dutasteride, Capsule, 500g (Avodart) will help around 130,000 Australian men who experience lower urinary tract symptoms caused by prostate enlargement. This drug can reduce the likelihood of surgery being required by some sufferers.

• Amino Acid Synthetic Formula supplemented with Long Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Medium Chain Triglycerides, compound powder, 400g, (Neocate LCP+MCT) will provide the nutritional equivalent of cow’s milk protein and soy protein to the 6% of kids under 3 years old who have a severe intolerance or suffer from short bowel syndrome.

The addition of Dutasteride to the PBS is at a cost of $54.1 million over 4 years and Azacitidine is at a cost of $92.8 million over 4 years.

These changes to the PBS were recommended to the Government by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) and are in addition to nicotine replacement therapy changes that also come into effect today.

Other recommendations by PBAC are currently being considered by Government. This process includes pricing negotiations with the manufacturer, finalising the conditions for listing and Cabinet approval.

The 2010-11 Budget provides funding of more than $9 billion to support the PBS. The scheme will subsidise about 200 million prescriptions during the financial year.

Full details of these listing are available from the PBS website www.pbs.gov.au

For more information, contact Ms Roxon’s Office: (02) 6277 7220