Daijiworld Media Network - Canberra
Canberra, Nov 1: The Australian government has expanded access to subsidised medicines for patients with cystic fibrosis, blood cancer and thyroid eye disease under the country's Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), Health Minister Mark Butler announced on Sunday.
The changes, which take effect from November 1, will make a granule formulation of Trikafta available to children aged six to 11 with cystic fibrosis who weigh less than 30 kg. The medicine targets the underlying cause of the genetic condition.
The new formulation is intended for children who have difficulty swallowing tablets. Around 3,300 Australians are expected to benefit from the expanded PBS listing each year, according to a government statement, Xinhua News Agency reported.
Without PBS subsidies, the treatment could cost patients more than 20,300 Australian dollars (about 14,200 US dollars) per prescription.
The government has also included Tepezza in the PBS for the treatment of active, moderate-to-severe thyroid eye disease. Around 310 Australians are expected to benefit from the listing annually.
Meanwhile, subsidised access to Adcetris has been expanded to provide a new first-line treatment option for patients with advanced CD30-positive classical Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of blood cancer. An estimated 370 Australians are expected to benefit each year.
The PBS listing for Repatha, a medicine used to treat high cholesterol, has also been amended to allow eligible patients to obtain larger quantities under the government's 60-day prescription initiative.
Under the PBS, eligible patients will pay a maximum of 25 Australian dollars per prescription, while concession card holders will pay 7.70 Australian dollars.
The government said it has approved additional funding for 511 new and amended PBS listings since July 2022.
Separately, Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) said in October that it was developing reforms to strengthen sunscreen regulation and improve consumer confidence in the reliability of sun protection factor (SPF) claims.
The proposed changes include stricter sunscreen testing requirements, quality standards for specific ingredients and restrictions on the SPF claims that cosmetic sunscreens can make.
The TGA will also review its good manufacturing practice guidance to clarify expectations and responsibilities, while supporting continued confidence in the quality and performance of sunscreen products in Australia.
The reforms follow a public consultation held between March and May, which received nearly 120 responses from industry representatives, testing laboratories, health professionals, consumer groups, academics and other stakeholders.
Australia has the highest incidence of skin cancer in the world, the TGA said, emphasising that sunscreen regulation primarily aims to ensure product quality, safety and effectiveness in protecting consumers from harmful ultraviolet radiation, thereby reducing the incidence and impact of skin cancer.