Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Ruston for the question. I acknowledge her interest in this, and it was a subject that we spoke about during budget estimates. I can say that the Minister for Health and Aged Care is working closely with the drug company and others, including having a meeting with me earlier this week to talk about how to provide access to this new drug—this new treatment line—in the time between now and its approval through the PBAC and PBS process. I understand an application has been made and that the TGA are giving it priority assessment, but that still takes some time. I can imagine, for Holly and her parents and for all of the other children and their families who are diagnosed with or undergoing treatment for neuroblastoma, that this important lifeline is really critical and a decision as soon as possible is really important.

I can tell you that we are working on it. We are looking at ways and options to provide access to this medication. I'm not taking away from the seriousness of the issue you raise, but, as you would understand, there are a number of representations to governments about accessing new medications. I expect that will only increase as the highly targeted and engineered treatment regimes continue to be developed for drugs and medications that aren't on the PBS. We are very sympathetic. The minister for health is very sympathetic to looking at what we can do. I've had a meeting with him. Our departments are working together to look at what options are available. (Time expired)