Angie Bell (Moncrieff, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Health. Will the minister outline to the House why it's important for the Morrison government to provide a stable and certain approach to investing in life-saving medicine and is the minister aware of any alternative approaches?

Greg Hunt (Flinders, Liberal Party, Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I want to thank the member for Moncrieff, who comes to this place and who through her career has had a dozen years as a small business consultant not only leading her own business but assisting other small businesses to manage their businesses. In particular, one of the lessons that she learnt, taught and helped others with was the very simple proposition that you cannot spend more than you earn, because that will lead to consequences. That's equally true for nations as well as small businesses. We know this in particular in the area of health and medicines, because when that happened, following the previous government blowing all of its budgets, we saw in 2011 the then budget papers set out very, very clearly, 'Due to fiscal circumstances, the government will defer the listing of some new medicines until fiscal circumstances permit.'

Mr Bowen interjecting—

The consequence was that medicines for endometriosis, for IVF, for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, for asthma and for schizophrenia were deferred.

Mr Bowen interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for McMahon is now warned.

Greg Hunt (Flinders, Liberal Party, Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Medicines for endometriosis and IVF, amongst other things, were deliberately deferred in defiance of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee. By contrast, because of the stable environment on our watch, in our time, we've been able to list over 2,200 new and amended medicines. That includes Ibrance, a medicine recently listed for metastatic or inoperable breast cancer. Three thousand women will save up to $55,000 a year and, above all else, have a real sense of hope and possibility for their future.

Chris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What about cystic fibrosis?

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for McMahon has been warned. This is his final warning.

Greg Hunt (Flinders, Liberal Party, Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Equally, another medicine is Bavencio. This was something that I was able to help launch with the Prime Minister. Bavencio is for treating metastatic merkel cell carcinoma. At the launch of this medicine, which will help 160 patients save $150,000 a year, we met Wayne Lieberman. Wayne's words were very clear on that day—and I confirm today that he is in fine health and is improving his fitness every day. Wayne said: 'Twelve months ago, I had a very short horizon to look forward to. It wasn't good. I went onto Bavencio and in three months the metastasised tumours throughout my body have all cleared.' He then went on to say, 'For every future patient being diagnosed with merkel cell carcinoma, they now have a future.' That is why the PBS matters, and that is why a strong, clear budget matters.