PRESSURE FOR PBS LISTING PAYS OFF

The Independent Member for Denison, Andrew Wilkie, has welcomed the Government’s decision to list a late-stage cancer drug on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

The Health Minister, Nicola Roxon, today announced Cabinet has approved the listing of the drug Erbitux.

The decision follows Mr Wilkie this month calling on the Prime Minister to reconsider the Government’s decision to pause PBS listings.

He raised the plight of Tasmanian grandmother, Dorothy Thurley, who was too sick to work and had to apply for a credit card to raise $60,000 a year to pay for Erbitux.

“We live in one of the richest countries in the world and people like Mrs Thurley should not have to go into debt just to pay for a drug to keep them alive,’’ Mr Wilkie said.

“This is a compassionate and good decision and will make a real difference to the lives of people like Mrs Thurley and their families.

“I now call on the Government to end its broader budget-driven pause on the listing of PBS drugs because every sick person shouldn’t have to wage the tiresome campaign Mrs Thurley needed to.’’

Mr Wilkie also supported a Coalition motion deploring the Government’s policy to defer new PBS medicines unless offset savings are found.

Download Mr Wilkie’s question to the Prime Minister and the motion he supported last Thursday:
Pharmaceutical_Benefits_Scheme.pdf
Moylan_Cabinet_Consideration_of_new_PBS_listings.pdf
Andrew Wilkie, Independent Member for Denison