E&OE…
Topics: Affordable access to new life-changing cancer medicines
ALEX HART:
The Federal Government has revealed revolutionary new cancer medication will be made available to hundreds of Australians in the New Year.
Health Minister Greg Hunt joins us for more on this announcement. Minister, this is news many people have been waiting a very long time for.
GREG HUNT:
This is very, very good news for the New Year. From the first of January there will be new drugs for myeloma and for lung cancer that will be made available. Before now it would have been $138,000 or $188,000. After this it will be $6.40 a script for concession card holders.
In other words, drugs which are life-changing were impossible to be paid for by most people, now they’ll be in the reach of everybody who needs them.
ALEX HART:
Minister, just give us some insight into what makes these medications so revolutionary.
GREG HUNT:
So, what they do is that they inhibit the growth of the different cancers, of multiple myeloma, which is a cancer of the plasma cells, and lung cancer, which of course is such a catastrophic cancer for anybody who has it. They can change lives, they can protect lives.
Ultimately, this is medical science being translated to the reach of every Australian who needs it, and what we’re doing is we’re investing $300 million.
We’re bringing these drugs into the reach of those who have a desperate need and without this help they simply wouldn’t be able to afford it.
ALEX HART:
Great news, Minister, thanks so very much for your time.
(ENDS)