19 March 2014 -Ten new medicines to treat a range of illnesses from rare forms of cancer to skin conditions will be listed on the PBS from 1 April.

Minister for Health Peter Dutton said that improved access to these medicines would benefit many Australians and particularly families with sick children.

Patients with Type 2 diabetes will benefit from expanded access to several newer diabetes medicines, known as 'gliptins'.

“These medicines will have expanded access on the PBS allowing patients that require treatment with multiple medicines for diabetes to access innovative new treatments earlier,” Mr Dutton said.

A drug to treat arthritis in children – tocilzumab (sold as Actemera) – will be listed considerably lowering the cost to families whose children rely on the treatment for juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

For more details, go to: http://www.health.gov.au/internet/ministers/publishing.nsf/Content/health-mediarel-yr2014-dutton024....