Breakthrough treatments for asthma will soon be priced lower with their inclusion in the pharmaceutical benefits scheme (PBS) listing. This came after Australian lawmakers successfully negotiated with drug companies allowing them to spend an additional $130 million for the PBS scheme which is funded by taxpayer's money.
The measure worth multi-million dollars will soon be announced by Health Minister Sussan Ley. One out of three persons who suffer from asthma is not able to control the symptoms with puffers alone and the lower cost of other medications under the PBS list will be a welcome respite for them.
Huffington Post said the measure will initially benefit around 26,000 patients but will be increased to 67,000 patients by 2020. In four years time, the support for asthma patients will cost the taxpayers up to $103 million. This is very good news for Australians considering that eight people died in Melbourne just last month after the occurrence of an asthma event that caused severe breathing difficulties that led to 1,900 emergency calls.
The PBS, according to Daily Telegraph, started in 1948 as a limited scheme which included up to 139 free medicines for the community as well as free medicines for pensioners. As part of the Australian government's National Medicines Policy, the PBS is expected to provide optimal healthcare for its citizens.
Today, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme said it subsidizes the cost of medicine for a variety of conditions. Among the medications for uncontrolled and severe asthma that have been included in the PB, list is Spiriva Respimat which will cost $6.20 a script starting February and Tiotropium which was approved early this year by the PBS independent advisory board.
Medical News Today said asthma is a chronic illness without cure but which can be controlled using medications and tools such as the handheld Peak Flow Meter which helps determine the movement of air in the lungs. Among the symptoms of asthma are coughing and shortness of breath.
