DEMENTIA patients fear they will no longer have access to life-improving treatments after the Government announced it would review the cost-effectiveness of subsidising drugs for sufferers. <\/p>\n
The Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) announced on Monday it would review all medications available to dementia sufferers under the Government's Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). <\/p>\n
The announcement followed an initial review by the committee that found \"these medicines were being prescribed to a much larger population for longer periods of time than was originally agreed as cost-effective by the PBAC\". <\/p>\n
Alzheimer's Australia says patients and their carers are worried the review may mean the drugs will no longer be discounted and will become unaffordable. <\/p>\n
\"People with dementia and carers are alarmed by the announcement of this review,\" Alzheimer's Australia CEO Glenn Rees told AAP today.<\/p>\n
\"That's quite a lot for many of these people because they would have lost their incomes or they'll be on pensions,\" he said. <\/p>\n
Mr Rees said sufferers are concerned the review may be part of the Government's cost-cutting measures. <\/p>\n
Alzheimer's Australia president Ita Buttrose, who cared for her father who suffered from vascular dementia, said carers were particularly concerned about what the review may mean. <\/p>\n
\"What those drugs do is improve the quality of life for a person with dementia,\" Ms Buttrose told AAP today. <\/p>\n
\"It adds another stress to the whole business of caring. They're thinking now the drugs aren't going to be available.\" <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Continued here: DEMENTIA patients fear they will no longer have access to life-improving treatments after the Government announced it would review the cost-effectiveness of subsidising drugs for sufferers. The Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) announced on Monday it would review all medications available to dementia sufferers under the Government's Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) Continue reading
\nDementia patients may go without drugs<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"