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New hepatitis C and diabetes medications available on the PBS


Paul Hayes


30/07/2018 2:38:30 PM

Patients with hepatitis C and diabetes will be able to access more affordable treatments from this week, with important medications to be made available through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said patients will pay a maximum of $39.50 per script for the medications. (Image: Penny Stephens)
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said patients will pay a maximum of $39.50 per script for the medications. (Image: Penny Stephens)

The Federal Government has made hepatitis C drug Maviret and diabetes medication Ryzodeg available on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) from 1 August.
 
Maviret is a once-daily treatment that is designed to keep the hepatitis C virus from multiplying and infecting new cells. According to the Government, it is part of a class of new treatments that provide a cure for more than 90% of people treated.
 
‘Without this listing, patients could pay over $50,000 per course of treatment for this medicine,’ Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said.
 
Ryzodeg is a diabetes pen that contains two types of insulin – basal and aspart – and is designed to help people with type 1 and 2 diabetes more easily regulate their blood-sugar levels.
 
Patients would pay close to $930 per year for Ryzodeg without the PBS listing.
 
‘These two new listing on the PBS will now mean that from August 1 patients will pay a maximum of $39.50 per script for these medications or just $6.40 per script for concessional patients, including pensioners,’ Minister Hunt said.
 
The Federal Government also announced that it will provide $1 million to Hepatitis Australia to ‘continue education and awareness activities to improve hepatitis C testing and treatment uptake’.



diabetes hapatitis C Maviret Ryzodeg


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