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Journal of the National Cancer Institute Advance Access originally published online on November 27, 2007
JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute 2007 99(23):1750-1752; doi:10.1093/jnci/djm257
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© Oxford University Press 2007.

NEWS

In Australia, Patients and Government at Odds Over Mesothelioma Treatment Costs

Vicki Burkitt

The first 10% of the full text of this article appears below.

Patient advocates have been lobbying the Australian government to fund a mesothelioma drug that they believe will improve patient quality of life and extend survival. However, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC), which makes drug funding decisions for the country's national health care system, has twice rejected pemetrexed for listing on the pharmaceutical benefits scheme, which would ensure universal drug coverage for patients with asbestos-related lung cancer.

As JNCI was going to press, the PBAC overturned those previous decisions to rule that patients will get access to the mesothelioma treatment, much to the delight of the Asbestos Diseases Foundation of Australia and drug manufacturer Eli Lilly, who had been lobbying for the change.

A similar debate between cost effectiveness and access to drugs has been taking place across the world. Other countries, including England and Canada, are . . . [Full Text of this Article]

The Story Down Under

Costs Around the World


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