Michelle Landry (Capricornia, National Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Manufacturing) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I recently met with little Mila, who has cystic fibrosis, and her parents, Jaimee and Mitchell, to discuss the urgent need for Trikafta to be added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. Every day, Mila battles this devastating illness through multiple medications and physiotherapy treatments. Yet there is hope for Mila and many other children like her who suffer daily. Trikafta is a miracle drug that can prevent further deterioration of the lungs and airways, limiting the damage on the body. Last year, the coalition government recognised the critical need to add Trikafta to the PBS and made it available for those aged 12 and over. The Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee approved Trikafta for use for children between the ages of six and 11 before Christmas last year. Unfortunately, this has not turned out to be the Christmas present families were hoping for. Two months have gone by, and the bureaucratic red tape is delaying access to this treatment, with costs of over $250,000 a year to access Trikafta. This leaves the medication out of reach for most children.

Once this medication is on the PBS, 90 per cent of those suffering from cystic fibrosis can be treated. These children don't have the luxury of time on their side. The sooner it is placed on the PBS, the sooner the life-altering conditions associated with cystic fibrosis can be halted. This needs to be done urgently so children like Mila can look forward to a long and healthy life.