Rare Cancers Australia (RCA) has welcomed today’s announcement from the Federal Government that could see Australians living with rare and less common cancers gain faster and fairer access to life-changing treatments without having to pay the hefty price tag.
Minister for Health and Ageing, The Hon Mark Butler, confirmed he has received a positive recommendation from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) to subsidise a pan-tumour listing for nivolumab and ipilimumab for advancedat a late stage, far along or metastatic cancers – a move that could mark a major shift in how cancera disease where abnormal cells split without control and spread to other nearby body tissue and/or organs medicines are assessed and funded in Australia.
RCA CEO, Christine Cockburn, said that after years of advocating on the issue it was promising to see movement on a fairer approach for rare.
“Today marks an important turning point for the rare cancer community,” Ms Cockburn said.
“This recommendation signals a seismic shift in thinking – where access to medicines is not reliant on impossible evidentiary standards for small patient populations. For many Australians living with rare and less common cancers, it means hope for faster, fairer access to treatments that can save or extend lives.”
Ms Cockburn commended the PBAC and Department of Health for their willingness to listen and collaborate with stakeholders to resolve long-standing systemic barriers.
“Breaking this multi-cancer stalemate has not been easy, but this recommendation shows what’s possible when government, clinicians, industry and patients work together towards bold reform,” she said.
Minister Butler will now consider the PBAC’s recommendation and decide whether to approve the treatment for public listing on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) – a decision that will ultimately transform access for patients.
“This recommendation shows an appetite for change, an imperative for equity and a readiness to rethink how access to medicines works in Australia creating faster, fairer access for thousands of people,” Ms Cockburn continued.
“We now urge a speedy resolution of the next phase to ensure PBS listing.
“Under current arrangements, people with rare cancers miss out on therapies or pay eye-watering amounts to access them because assessment is done on a very slow, indication-by-indication basis.
“If approved, it could change the status quo for Australians diagnosed each year with a rare or less common cancer – people who too often rely on clinical trialsresearch studies performed to test new treatments, tests or procedures and evaluate their effectiveness on various diseases or accessing superannuation or even crowdfunding to pay for treatment. This is about giving every patient a more equitable experience and genuine chance at life beyond cancer,” she concluded.
RCA commended the sponsor and the PBAC for finding a way forward on this multi-cancer approach and urged swift action to turn this recommendation into a reality, through a fast listing of therapy and a framework for future pan-tumour listings.
ENDS
Media contact
Alicia Ballesty
Head of Strategic Communications
0499 880 742 | [email protected]