Slade Brockman (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health, Senator Scullion. Can the minister advise how the Liberal-National government is ensuring that Australians have access to affordable life-saving medicines through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme?

Nigel Scullion (NT, Country Liberal Party, Minister for Indigenous Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Brockman, for that important question. The PBS is a service that Australians can rely on. It brings into reach medicines that otherwise would be unaffordable for so many Australians.

Since coming to government in 2013, we have subsidised close to $10 billion worth of new medicines. We've added over 1,900 new and amended listings to the PBS, which equates to almost one medicine added to the PBS every single day. Because we brought the budget back under control and more Australians off the welfare side of the ledger onto the tax-paying side of the ledger—the best figures in 25 years—we can afford to put more into medicines on the PBS.

In the budget this year we are investing another $2.4 billion in new medicines. Our new $2.4 billion investment builds on other recent investments, including another $250 million to make four life-saving cancer medicines available to thousands of Australian patients. These are drugs that will make a profound difference to our fellow Australians who face the daily battle against cancer. It will support a thousand patients with a type of head and neck cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, who will benefit with the listing of Opdivo. Mr David Littlewood from Queensland said of this drug:

Immunotherapy was my last chance to tackle terminal cancer …

…   …   …

I was fortunate enough to be given that opportunity … as otherwise there was no chance.

…   …   …

It is a life-saving therapy. I would just be another number if it weren't for it …

Two hundred and twenty patients suffering from subtypes of lymphoma cancer will benefit from the listing of Imbruvica, saving patients $134,000. More than 1,500 patients who are currently receiving chemotherapy for cancer treatment will benefit from Neulasta. One thousand, one hundred and twenty-five patients will benefit from not having to pay $18,000 a year with the listing of— (Time expired).

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Brockman, a supplementary question.

Slade Brockman (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Minister, for that answer. How is the government's strong record of support for the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme benefitting people in my home state of Western Australia?

Nigel Scullion (NT, Country Liberal Party, Minister for Indigenous Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you for that question. Recently, we have announced that we will make a medication for severe inflammatory spinal arthritis more affordable when we list it on the PBS, saving patients more than $15,000 a year. Almost 4,000 patients across the country who suffer from active non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis will benefit when Simponi becomes available on the PBS on 1 December.

Last week, in your home state, Senator Brockman, the Minister for Health, Mr Hunt, met with Casey Brown, a Western Australian Football League footballer from Subiaco who has benefited from Simponi. Mr Brown, you will be happy to know, is now back up and running again, thanks to the listing of this drug. He told TheWest Australian:

"I was waking up real stiff and sore, and could barely get out of bed …

"I had an MRI and it came up with a heap of inflammation on my hip, in one of the joints."

"It was my first year at Subi, so it wasn't ideal. But I'm back running now, so I'm pretty much 100 per cent."

Isn't that great news?

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Brockman, a final supplementary question.

Slade Brockman (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Minister; that is great news. Could the minister update the Senate on how the government's record investment in new medicines compares with the record of those opposite?

Nigel Scullion (NT, Country Liberal Party, Minister for Indigenous Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator. Unlike Labor, we are subsidising all drugs recommended by the independent medical experts. The last Labor government reversed the policy of the coalition to list all medicines approved by the independent PBAC. In fact, they deferred the listing of seven medicines. That was down to their financial mismanagement. They simply couldn't afford the services that Australians rely on. They deferred the listing of Symbicort. We have had a few questions about aged care. I can tell you people in aged care will be listening. Symbicort is for the treatment of severe asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. They deferred Fragmin to treat deep vein thrombosis, Synarel for the treatment for endometriosis and IVF, and Invega Sustenna for the treatment of schizophrenia. In Labor's own 2011-12 budget papers, the listing of some medicines would be deferred 'until fiscal circumstances permit'. The only time fiscal circumstances permitted was when we got to the Treasury bench! You simply can't trust those on the other side with your health services. (Time expired)