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Budget: at least $280m for PBS
Posted 7 May 2018
Health Minister Greg Hunt and Treasurer Scott Morrison have touted a $240 million PBS splurge on Biogen's Spinal Muscular Atrophy drug Spinraza in pre-Budget spending interviews.
Recommended by the PBAC in March, Spinraza will list on the PBS from 1 June, with Biogen already providing compassionate access.
Hunt said 160 families would benefit from the listing, saving them the $367,850 drug cost, although the $241 million allocation amounts to $1.5 million per patient.
Biogen was told to substantially cut its price if it were to succeed in securing a PBAC recommendation at a special meeting earlier this year, suggesting the cost-effective price negotiated to secure PBAC support was substantially less than that quoted by Hunt and Treasurer Scott Morrison and leaving questions as to what the real cost of the listing is.
Morrison claimed he was among those who pushed for Spinraza to be reimbursed after attending a Canberra patient group forum.
"I sat down with Greg Hunt and the Prime Minister and others and we said this is
something you need to do," he said.
"This is what a stronger economy can do... This is something I think is very
necessary. It's indicative of our broader approach. Essential services like that must be guaranteed. That's why we have guaranteed the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme."
Describing Spinraza as "a miracle listing", Hunt said the government had also allocated $39.5 million to extend pertussis vaccination subsidy to all pregnant women in Australia from 1 July.
"Every expectant mum can now be vaccinated on the National Immunisation Program," Hunt said, with change to the NIP likely to mean an end to state government programs and women relying on their own resources.
"Whooping cough is a terrible disease that can cause life-threatening complications, including pneumonia or brain damage. Babies in their first six months of life are most at risk. There are now no barriers and no excuses for not protecting yourself, your family and the rest of the community," Hunt said.
However, while Spinraza will list less than three months after recommendation, Sanofi's pretussis vaccine Adacel had to wait more than a year for an NIP berth.
The NIP listing follows recommendations made by the PBAC and ATAGI and is part of broader investment in immunisation, with government funding of $460 million in vaccines and related activities through the NIP this year alone, the minister said.
Megan Brodie
Nick Lush
Posted 7 May 2018
Health Minister Greg Hunt and Treasurer Scott Morrison have touted a $240 million PBS splurge on Biogen's Spinal Muscular Atrophy drug Spinraza in pre-Budget spending interviews.
Recommended by the PBAC in March, Spinraza will list on the PBS from 1 June, with Biogen already providing compassionate access.
Hunt said 160 families would benefit from the listing, saving them the $367,850 drug cost, although the $241 million allocation amounts to $1.5 million per patient.
Biogen was told to substantially cut its price if it were to succeed in securing a PBAC recommendation at a special meeting earlier this year, suggesting the cost-effective price negotiated to secure PBAC support was substantially less than that quoted by Hunt and Treasurer Scott Morrison and leaving questions as to what the real cost of the listing is.
Morrison claimed he was among those who pushed for Spinraza to be reimbursed after attending a Canberra patient group forum.
"I sat down with Greg Hunt and the Prime Minister and others and we said this is
something you need to do," he said.
"This is what a stronger economy can do... This is something I think is very
necessary. It's indicative of our broader approach. Essential services like that must be guaranteed. That's why we have guaranteed the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme."
Describing Spinraza as "a miracle listing", Hunt said the government had also allocated $39.5 million to extend pertussis vaccination subsidy to all pregnant women in Australia from 1 July.
"Every expectant mum can now be vaccinated on the National Immunisation Program," Hunt said, with change to the NIP likely to mean an end to state government programs and women relying on their own resources.
"Whooping cough is a terrible disease that can cause life-threatening complications, including pneumonia or brain damage. Babies in their first six months of life are most at risk. There are now no barriers and no excuses for not protecting yourself, your family and the rest of the community," Hunt said.
However, while Spinraza will list less than three months after recommendation, Sanofi's pretussis vaccine Adacel had to wait more than a year for an NIP berth.
The NIP listing follows recommendations made by the PBAC and ATAGI and is part of broader investment in immunisation, with government funding of $460 million in vaccines and related activities through the NIP this year alone, the minister said.
Megan Brodie
Nick Lush
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