Fed: Asbestos disease drug to be given govt subsidy from today

AAP General News (Australia)
12-31-2007
Fed: Asbestos disease drug to be given govt subsidy from today



DONE EDS: Embargoed until 0001 (AEDT) January 1, 2008







Sufferers of the asbestos-linked disease mesothelioma will have access to cheap treatment
from today .. ending a long campaign to secure government subsidy.

The federal government says the chemotherapy agent Alimta .. the only treatment available
specifically for the killer cancer of the lung or stomach lining .. will be listed on
the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme from today.

Health Minister NICOLA ROXON says the listing of Alimta is an important announcement
that follows the tireless campaigning of BERNIE BANTON .. who died in November from the
disease.

About 600 Australians are diagnosed annually with mesothelioma .. but the long lag
time between exposure to asbestos and the onset of symptoms means its prevalence is tipped
to rise in the future.

Medical studies have estimated 18 thousand people will have become victims of the disease
by 2020.







Alimta .. which can increase survival time and improve a sufferer's quality of life
.. has been out of reach for many patients at 20 thousand dollars or more for six treatments.

From today .. sufferers will pay a maximum of 31 dollaers.30 for each prescription.

Eligible concession-patients will pay $5 for each prescription.

The subsidy will cost the government about $26 million annually and is expected to
benefit about 300 people a year.

The listing of the drug became an election issue after Mr Banton criticised then health
minister Tony Abbott for failing to personally receive a 17,000-signature petition brought
to his Sydney electoral office in October.

Mr Abbott was forced into an embarrassing apology after questioning whether the dying
campaigner's motives for speaking out were "pure of heart".

A week later, a government-appointed board recommended the drug be added to the PBS
after three times rejecting its listing since 2004.

Mr Abbott bypassed the normal process of cabinet approval by immediately announcing
the drug's listing.

Until now, only about half of Australians suffering mesothelioma were getting easy
access to the palliative care drug through state government subsidy and workplace compensation
schemes.

AAP RTV jb/rl

KEYWORD: ALIMTA (CANBERRA)

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