Breast and lung cancer patients will have affordable access to life-changing medicines that normally cost up to $80,000 for treatment from today, Minister for Health Sussan Ley has announced.

Ms Ley said that from July 1 2015, patients will now pay just $6.10 (concessional) or $37.70 (general) for breakthrough lung cancer medicine Crizotinib and breast cancer treatments Perjeta, Herceptin and Kadcyla as a result of their official listing on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme today.

Ms Ley said taxpayers would invest over a quarter-of-a-billion dollars in listing the new drugs and was another example of the Abbott Government delivering on its promise to list new medicines as quickly as possible.

“Access to new medicines is crucial if we’re to help Australians beat life-threatening diseases such as cancer, as well as overcome chronic and degenerative conditions that can rob them of their independence,” Ms Ley said.

“This investment will deliver affordable access to patients who would otherwise pay up to $80,000 for these life-saving treatments to beat breast and lung cancers.

“In fact, the Abbott Government has already listed double the number of drugs compared to Labor’s last term in office and in half the time, and that investment is only going to continue to grow.

“One in every six dollars out of the $10 billion taxpayers invest in the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme every year is now spent on cancer treatments.”

For more details, go to: http://www.health.gov.au/internet/ministers/publishing.nsf/Content/health-mediarel-yr2015-ley083.htm