Geoff Lyons (Bass, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to speak on this motion proposed by the member for Dickson regarding chemotherapy drugs. Since 2007, the government has invested $3.7 billion to improve cancer prevention, detection, treatment, research and infrastructure. Since this time, with an additional $1.3 billion, the Labor government has listed 30 new medicines to treat 15 different types of cancers on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, saving many more patients over $5,000 per treatment.

The government acknowledges that there has been community concern with regard to the impact of price disclosure on funding for chemotherapy infusion medicines. On 5 May this year Minister Plibersek announced a major review into the way chemotherapy is funded, and provided a way for ensuring cancer patients have continued access to quality, affordable treatment.

I note the support of shadow minister Dutton for the policy of price disclosure and the aim that Australian taxpayers should pay the market price for PBS medicines, including chemo infusions. In terms of point 3 of the member for Dickson's motion, the Gillard government wants to ensure that cancer patients do not experience any interruption in their treatment while we closely examine how much we should be paying to support the ongoing viability of chemotherapy providers.

The review followed talks between the federal government and the Pharmacy Guild of Australia over appropriate subsidies for dispensing chemotherapy after the reduction in price the government pays for a key chemotherapy drug, docetaxel. For many years the government has been paying 20 per cent to 75 per cent above the market price for this drug. These inflated prices have meant the government has paid, in some instances, $2,800 above the market price. I strongly believe that taxpayers should not be paying inflated prices for medicines that are no longer covered by the patient and are being sold to pharmacies at much lower prices. To bring the price the government pays into line with the market price, on 1 December 2012 the price the government paid for this cancer drug dropped by 76 per cent.

I note that in the 2013-14 budget the federal Labor government increased support for young people living with cancer. Young people who are diagnosed with cancer will better be able to get the care and support they need under this government's funding boost. The Gillard government is providing an additional $18.3 million over four years for youth cancer networks around Australia, building on the $15 million already provided for the networks. I am pleased to say that the Launceston General Hospital in Bass is a partner in this project. We have expanded the breast cancer screening for women, which is very important. And we know that detecting cancer early means better outcomes for patients. The 2013 federal budget included $55.7 million to expand the breast cancer target screening program for women aged between 70 and 74. This means that 70,000 more women will now receive a mammogram-reminder letter from BreastScreen Australia.

The Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing has investigated these issues, including with site visits to regional hospitals, and has an ongoing contact with the Pharmacy Guild of Australia. The government continues to discuss the issues with the Pharmacy Guild, with a view to ensuring sustainability of the supply and dispensing of chemotherapy medicines. The government accepts that the dispensing of cancer treatments is more complex than other types of treatments. This is why oncology pharmacists are paid $77 in preparation fees plus mark-ups for chemotherapy infusions.

In closing, I am proud of the government's record in improving cancer services. In addition to listing 30 new cancer treatments since 2007 the government has also committed around $2.5 billion to improve the detection and treatment of cancer. Recently, the Minister for Health, the Hon. Tanya Plibersek came to my electorate of Bass to officially open the Northern Cancer Support Centre, which is proving to be an important place, where sufferers and their families, friends and carers can go for support.

We are supporting patients in regional areas through the construction of regional cancer centres and associated accommodation facilities. These achievements demonstrate that this government is committed to providing cancer patients with the best treatments and services, no matter where they live. Australian cancer patients now have the best overall survival rates in the world, and our new cancer packages will continue to improve the lives of all Australians touched by cancer.

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