Nick Xenophon (SA, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I, and also on behalf of Senators Fierravanti-Wells and Madigan, move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes the concerns of key stakeholders in relation to the price reduction of chemotherapy drug Docetaxel and its potential broader impact on the treatment of cancer patients;

(b) calls on the Government to:

(i) negotiate with relevant bodies regarding the cost of dispensing chemotherapy drugs, and

(ii) ensure that the result of these negotiations will allow pharmacists to continue dispensing the drug, and other chemotherapy drugs, without disrupting patients;

(c) welcomes the policy of price disclosure of items on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme; and

(d) calls on the Government to ensure that further disruption to patients does not occur.

Jacinta Collins (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary for School Education and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a brief statement.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Jacinta Collins (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary for School Education and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There has been a lot of misleading information about this matter. Contrary to the claims contained in this motion, patient services have not been disrupted. Taxpayers have been paying inflated prices for docetaxel, an older, off-patent chemotherapy. It is time the government paid the market price, and consistent with the bipartisan price disclosure policy the price will come down on 1 December. The Gillard government has a strong record of delivering for cancer patients. Since 2007, at an additional cost of $1.3 billion, the government has listed 30 new medicines to treat 15 different types of cancers, saving many patients over $5,000 per treatment. By paying less for older medicines like docetaxel, the government is able to continue to list new cancer medicines. The government will also continue working in good faith with the Pharmacy Guild, consumers, independent hospitals and private health insurers to ensure chemotherapy services are sustainable and the government will not be supporting this inconsistent and factually incorrect motion. (Time expired)

Question agreed to.