Member for New England Barnaby Joyce said the listing of these new medicines which treat head and neck cancer, lymphoma, rare blood cancers and a new drug to help manage the side effects of chemotherapy will save patients thousands of dollars. In some cases the saving for each patient will be more than $130,000 per year.

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“The new listings on the PBS will now mean patients will pay a maximum of $39.50 per script or just $6.40 per script for concessional patients, including pensioners,” Mr Joyce said.

“This will make a profound difference to patients and their families who are facing the daily battle against these cancers which can cost nearly $5,000 per course of treatment and more than $18,000 per year for others.”

Mr Joyce said Australian patients are getting access to life-saving and life-changing medicines quicker than ever before.

“We are now making on average one new PBS listing every single day.”

Minister for Health Greg Hunt said patients with a type of head and neck cancer – squamous cell carcinoma – who would otherwise pay almost tens of thousands per year for Opdivo will now have affordable access. The drug is part of the new wave of medicines utilising the body’s immune system to fight cancer.

“For some patients, Opdivo significantly slows the expansion of cancer, extends the patient’s life and in some cases causes remission from the disease,” Minister Hunt said. 

The independent Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee recommended the listings.