The Liberal National Government will make a medicine for the treatment of seizures associated with tuberous sclerosis more affordable, saving patients $17,000 a year. The medicine Afinitor® (everolimus) is being listed on the expert Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) from January 1, for the treatment of refractory seizures associated with tuberous sclerosis complex. The…
The Liberal National Government will make a medicine for a rare type of lung cancer caused by a gene defect affordable, saving patients $140,000 a year. From 1 January the medicine Xalkori® (crizotinib) will made available through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for lung cancer patients with a c-ROS proto-oncogene 1 (ROS1) gene rearrangement.…
The Liberal National Government will list a new medicine for adults with genetic kidney disease on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), saving patients around $23,000 a year. Jinarc® (tolvaptan) will be available through the PBS from 1 January 2019. It is the first effective drug treatment for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD)…
For many, Christmas and New Year is a time of celebration with family, friends and loved ones. However, the end of year holiday season can also be a time when many people experience stress, anxiety, depression, or social isolation. Over this period, I want to encourage those seeking help to visit the Head…
The Liberal National Government will invest in world leading cancer research that will focus on more accurate diagnosis, more effective treatments and improved survivorship of a broad range of cancers. Our Government, through Cancer Australia, will invest $7.1 million in research grants, with an additional $4.7 million contributed by funding partners Cancer Council Australia,…
More Australians are visiting their doctor without having to pay a cent, with new data showing a record GP bulk billing rate for the September quarter. The data for the first quarter of the 2018-19 financial year has the GP bulk billing rate at a record 86.1 per cent. This is 0.2 per…
The Liberal National Government is providing $110 million so a number of headspace centres around the country can continue to provide specialist clinical services for young people at the early stages of severe mental illness. Federal Member for Flinders, the Hon. Greg Hunt MP, said the two-year funding will go to continue the Early…
The Liberal National Government is providing $110 million so a number of headspace centres around the country can continue to provide specialist clinical services for young people at the early stages of severe mental illness. The two-year funding will go to continue the Early Psychosis Youth Services (EPYS) program at 14 different headspace centres…
The Liberal National Government’s reforms to make private health insurance simpler and more affordable have delivered the lowest annual premium change in 18 years. The average premium change for 2019, which will take effect on 1 April, will be 3.25 per cent, down over 40 per cent since Labor’s last year in office. This is the…
The Liberal National Government will support our older Australians and our ageing population with a $185 million medical research package focused on ageing, aged care and dementia. The 10-year Dementia, Ageing and Aged Care Mission is funded through the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) and its focus will include: Dementia (diagnosis, treatment and prevention) Fall…