The Cancer Drugs Alliance has welcomed tonight’s announcement in the Federal Government Budget, that it will invest $1.6bn in listing new medicines for diseases such as melanoma, metastatic colorectal and breast cancer. 

“We welcome the measures announced tonight for listing medicines for melanoma, metastatic colorectal and breast cancer patients, and the commitment from the Abbott Government to listing approved drugs as fast as possible through the PBS,” said leading Australian oncologist and co-chair of the Cancer Drugs Alliance, Professor John Zalcberg.

“The treatments included in the Federal Budget tonight are examples of the rapid scientific advances in global cancer research that have resulted in a shift toward targeted cancer therapies that have dramatically improved patient quantity and quality of life. However the fact remains that thousands of Australian cancer patients may still wait years for their treatments to be approved and we must work together to improve equity of access,” Professor Zalcberg said.

For more details, go to: http://www.cancerdrugsalliance.org.au/news/4045/government-urged-to-work-more-closely-with-cancer-community