About 20,000 Australians suffering type 2 diabetes will be able to swap twice daily injections for a weekly treatment, and save around $1,600 per year under a new medicine to be placed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
Federal Health Minister Sussan Ley announced the new diabetes treatment Exanatide will be subsidised under the PBS from September 1, along with an extra $70 million investment in the scheme for a cervical cancer drug and a treatment for a rare growth disease.
"This is easier, it's cheaper and most importantly for people with type 2 diabetes, up to 20,000 who can benefit from this treatment, it will avoid long term complications," Ms Ley said.
"Unfortunately Australia has a very high rate of diabetic amputations, all of which are avoidable.
"This is part of our government's commitment to listing medicines without fear or favour on the PBS, once advised by our expert committees."
Diabetes Australia gives tick of approval
The national peak body for diabetes has welcomed the listing.
"What it means is for a lot of people living with type 2 diabetes they have several injections a day and this will actually reduce that to once a week," the association's Renza Scibilia said.
"It's an absolutely huge improvement to quality of life, to ease of treatment as well, and we know that means people are more likely to be using the treatment as it is prescribed by their healthcare professional."
What is the PBS?
The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) began as a limited scheme in 1948, with free medicines for pensioners and a list of 139 ‘life-saving and disease preventing’ medicines free of charge for others in the community.
Today the PBS provides timely, reliable and affordable access to necessary medicines for Australians. The PBS is part of the Australian Government’s broader National Medicines Policy.
Under the PBS, the government subsidises the cost of medicine for most medical conditions. Most of the listed medicines are dispensed by pharmacists, and used by patients at home.
About 20,000 Australians suffering type 2 diabetes will be able to swap twice daily injections for a weekly treatment, and save around $1,600 per year under a new medicine to be placed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
Federal Health Minister Sussan Ley announced the new diabetes treatment Exanatide will be subsidised under the PBS from September 1, along with an extra $70 million investment in the scheme for a cervical cancer drug and a treatment for a rare growth disease.
"This is easier, it's cheaper and most importantly for people with type 2 diabetes, up to 20,000 who can benefit from this treatment, it will avoid long term complications," Ms Ley said.
"Unfortunately Australia has a very high rate of diabetic amputations, all of which are avoidable.
"This is part of our government's commitment to listing medicines without fear or favour on the PBS, once advised by our expert committees."
Diabetes Australia gives tick of approval
The national peak body for diabetes has welcomed the listing.
"What it means is for a lot of people living with type 2 diabetes they have several injections a day and this will actually reduce that to once a week," the association's Renza Scibilia said.
"It's an absolutely huge improvement to quality of life, to ease of treatment as well, and we know that means people are more likely to be using the treatment as it is prescribed by their healthcare professional."
What is the PBS?
The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) began as a limited scheme in 1948, with free medicines for pensioners and a list of 139 ‘life-saving and disease preventing’ medicines free of charge for others in the community.
Today the PBS provides timely, reliable and affordable access to necessary medicines for Australians. The PBS is part of the Australian Government’s broader National Medicines Policy.
Under the PBS, the government subsidises the cost of medicine for most medical conditions. Most of the listed medicines are dispensed by pharmacists, and used by patients at home.
