Susan Templeman (Macquarie, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Health and Ageing. How is the Albanese Labor government delivering cost-of-living relief by making medicines cheaper for all Australians? How are new medicines being added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme helping to improve the lives of Australians with multiple myeloma?

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Members on my left, I want silence in the House. A serious question was asked by the member for Macquarie, and I'd like the minister to be heard in silence.

Mark Butler (Hindmarsh, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I say thank you to the member for Macquarie, firstly, for her support for all of the new services we've rolled out in her electorate—the new Medicare mental health centre, an endometriosis clinic, a second headspace and, of course, the urgent care clinic in Windsor that opened this year—but also for her question, because she knows that there are more than 20,000 Australians today battling myeloma and 2,500 new cases diagnosed every single year.

The five-year survival rate for myeloma is just 60 per cent, with 1,200 Australians or more losing their battle with this bone marrow cancer every single year. Part of the reason why that survival rate is relatively low has been the lack of new treatments on the PBS—but that is changing. Last November, we listed the first new treatment for myeloma on the PBS for 12 years. Darzalex is a first-line treatment for people who've just been diagnosed. Before it was listed in November, it cost patients $440,000 for a course of treatment. But, now, around 1,300 or 1,400 patients every single year will be receiving this life-changing treatment for just PBS prices. Next week, we'll list another treatment, the second in just six months after 12 years of nothing. Elrexfio will be available for patients whose myeloma has relapsed after several lines of other treatment. Instead of paying $5,000 for every script for this treatment, again, they'll pay no more than $25. I'm also pleased to say that we're very close to finalising a deal with state governments to deliver a CAR-T cell therapy, Carvykti, that was recommended to us a little while ago and has to be delivered through the state hospital system.

Yesterday, I met with leaders of the myeloma community, including the president of Myeloma Australia, Jeff Browne, who AFL fans will remember as the former president of the Collingwood Football Club. We've forgiven him for that because he does such great work in his community! He was here with clinician Hayley Beer and Professor Simon Harrison, both from the Peter Mac Centre, not just giving me advice and insights but, I know, meeting members and senators across the parliament, across the political divide. I thank people for taking those meetings and them for coming to parliament.

People like Jeff and the much-loved Sandy Roberts are the public face of this community. But, behind them, literally hundreds of patients, family members and clinicians drive this vigorous community seeking to battle this insidious disease. They all know the cherished value of the PBS, bringing the best medicines from around the world to Australia at affordable prices for patients.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.