According to a story from the International Business Times, a total of eleven new medications are about to become a whole lot cheaper for Australia’s citizens. Slated to be added to the country’s Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), none of them will cost more than $40 per prescription.
The medicines in question are meant to treat a variety of both rare and common diseases. They will include some treatments for rare cancers, such as pralatrexate (brand name Folotyn), which will treat T-cell lymphoma. The government of Australia projects that the drug will be used to treat 440 patients in the nation per year. The new subsidies also includes methotrexate, a therapy for treating psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis. It is estimate that around 2300 patients will be able to benefit from this drug.
The drug dexamethasone will be also become available for the treatment of non-infectious uveitis and other inflammatory eye diseases. Uveitis is a condition in which the pigmented uvea layer of the eye becomes inflamed. Symptoms include floaters, blurred vision, burning, redness, headaches, and light sensitivity. It can occur as a side effect of certain medicines, from infection, in association with systemic illness, and as a side effect of autoimmune conditions. Generally, patients that receive prompt treatment should recover without major problems. Uveitis is commonly treated with steroids. To learn more about this condition, click here. Without government subsidy, a single round of treatment with dexamethasone would cost $2753. This drug should help over 1000 patients according to governmental projections.
Since coming into power, the most recent administration in Australia has been able to make major improvements in public health by adding new medicines to the PBS, and has subsidized new medications to the tune of $8.2 billion. The most recent additions will help patients with rare diseases like uveitis be able to access treatments effectively without being left in financial ruin in the process.
