In a monumental victory for Australian healthcare, broadcasting icon Sandy Roberts is celebrating a critical breakthrough in the fight against a rare blood cancer, after the federal government agreed to subsidise a life-saving treatment.
A Personal Battle Becomes a National Mission
The former AFL commentator, a familiar voice to sports fans for decades, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma three years ago. Since then, his personal fight has evolved into a public mission to help others battling the same disease. Roberts was joined in his advocacy by fellow patient and former Collingwood president, Jeff Browne, who chairs the support organisation Myeloma Australia.
"This is absolutely fantastic news," an elated Roberts declared. "The best thing that could happen." His sentiment echoes the relief felt by thousands of patients across the country who now have access to cutting-edge medicine.
The Game-Changing Treatment and its Cost
The drug at the centre of this celebration is Darzalex, a breakthrough treatment that uniquely targets cancerous cells in the blood and instructs the immune system to destroy them. Previously, this life-saving medication could cost patients a staggering $440,000, placing it far out of reach for most families.
However, as of Thursday, Darzalex was officially listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). This means that instead of hundreds of thousands of dollars, patients will now pay less than $32 per month for the prescription. For concession card holders, the cost drops to an incredibly accessible $7.70.
This subsidy is a lifeline, given that multiple myeloma has a five-year survival rate of just 55 per cent, making advanced treatments crucial for extending and improving lives.
A Timely Victory and The Fight Ahead
For Jeff Browne, the government's announcement was perfectly timed. "I'm having my first infusion of Darzalex tomorrow morning," he revealed, highlighting the immediate, real-world impact of the decision. He described Darzalex as "the leading drug, or one of the leading drugs, in the fight against multiple myeloma."
Despite this significant win, Browne sounded a note of caution, emphasising that the battle for affordable medicine is not over. He disclosed that another essential drug he requires still costs around $7000 per week, underscoring the ongoing financial burden of complex treatments.
"The more drugs they can put on the pharmaceutical benefit scheme, the more access people can have to those drugs," Browne stated, pointing the way forward for continued health advocacy.
Darzalex was one of six new medicines added to the PBS, which also cover conditions including Hodgkin lymphoma, liver cancer, and schizophrenia. Federal Health Minister Mark Butler said in a statement, "Access to affordable, effective medicines can change lives and that's exactly what these new PBS listings deliver." He confirmed the listings would improve and extend the lives of thousands of Australians, fulfilling a government promise for cheaper medicines.
