13 August 2016 - As many as 20,000 Australians living with Type 2 diabetes will find it easier and cheaper to manage their condition every day thanks to the Turnbull Government subsidising another $70 million round of new revolutionary medicines that will also help save the lives of women with advanced cervical cancer.

As many as 20,000 Australians living with Type 2 diabetes will find it easier and cheaper to manage their condition every day thanks to the Turnbull Government subsidising another $70 million round of new revolutionary medicines that will also help save the lives of women with advanced cervical cancer.

Minister for Health Sussan Ley announced the September 1 2016 listings on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), which take the Coalition’s total investment in listing new medicines to $4.5 billion since coming to office.

Ms Ley said the listing of revolutionary new diabetes treatment exenatide (Bydureon) would see patients only having to inject themselves once a week, rather than twice a day, meaning they will avoid up to 13 injections per week. Patients will also save over $1600 per year, she said.

“As one of our most prominent chronic diseases, Type 2 diabetes is placing a significant cost on the nation’s health and finances at nearly $1 billion per year,” Ms Ley said.

“According to Diabetes Australia there were about 4000 amputations last year that could have avoided with better daily management of a patient’s condition. Our hospitals also saw over 900,000 diabetes-related admissions.

Read Minister of Health press release