New and amended PBS listing to counter short bowel syndrome, upper limb spasticity

Patients with intestinal failure associated with Short Bowel Syndrome (SBS), and those suffering spasticity in the upper limbs, will soon have access to greater medicinal support, thanks to new and amended listings on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) coming into effect on October 1. 

 

Short Bowel Syndrome is a disorder that arises from an inability to absorb food nutrients and fluid across the gastrointestinal tract, and one that is often caused by surgical removal of all or part of the small intestine.

 

Australians experiencing SBS will be able to purchase first time listing Revestive® (Teduglutide), a medicine that improves the absorption of nutrients and fluid from the gut.

 

Up to 70 patients per year will benefit from the listing, with the PBS subsidy saving patients up to $284,700 per year for treatment. 

 

In addition, the current listing of Dysport® (clostridium Botulinum Type A Toxin – Haemagglutinin C Complex) will be extended to include patients with moderate to severe spasticity of the upper limbs, following an acute event.  

 

Dysport® temporarily relaxes overactive or contracting muscles, and resolves stiffness in the arm and/or hand. 

 

Up to 6,600 patients per year will benefit from the listing. Without the PBS subsidy, patients might pay more than $9,700 per course of treatment.

 

All of these PBS listings were recommended by the independent expert Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee.

 

Since 2013, the Australian Government has listed over 2,100 new or amended items on the PBS. This represents an average of around 30 listings per month – or one each day – at an overall cost of around $10.6 billion.

 

Our Government is able to provide unprecedented levels of support to health and medical research because of our strong economic management.

 

Unlike Labor, we are listing all medicines recommended by the medical experts on the PBAC. In 2011, Labor stopped listing medicines on the PBS because they could not manage the economy. 

 

Our commitment to ensuring that Australians can access affordable medicines, when they need them, remains rock solid.