Heart health is a critical concern for many Australians, and the cost of medication can be a significant burden for those with the condition.

But there's good news on the horizon. The Australian government has recently made a life-changing decision to list two essential medications on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), offering a beacon of hope and financial relief to thousands.

From May 1, two groundbreaking medications, mavacamten (Camzyos) and tafamidis (Vyndamax) will become much more accessible to patients suffering from symptomatic obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).

This condition is characterised by the thickening of the heart muscle, which can lead to heart failure if not properly managed.

Two medications for people with heart conditions are now included in PBS. Image source: Pexels

The abnormal build-up of protein in the heart muscle necessitates effective treatment to prevent severe complications.

Previously, the annual cost of Vyndamax was $122,000, a figure far beyond the reach of many Australians.

However, with its inclusion in the PBS, eligible patients will now only have to pay a maximum of $31.60 per script or $7.70 for concession card holders.

This represents a monumental saving and a significant reduction in the financial stress associated with managing heart health.

Camzyos, which comes with an annual price tag of around $33,000, will also be listed on the PBS for the first time.

This inclusion is a game-changer for patients who have been struggling with the high cost of HCM treatment. With both medications now subsidised, a combined total of approximately 4,800 Australians are expected to benefit from these changes.

Health Minister Mark Butler emphasised the importance of affordable and ready access to these drugs, ensuring that patients can receive prompt treatment for cardiomyopathy.

‘By listing Vyndamax and Camzyos on PBS, we’re giving patients and their doctors new options for treatment at an affordable price,’ he said.

This move follows the previous government action of listing the breast cancer drug Verzenio on PBS. The $100,000 cost for a two-year course of Verzenio will be significantly reduced by prices of $7.70 for concession cardholders or $31.60 for general patients per month.

Jardiance, another medication prescribed for a heart disorder, was added to the PBS last year. This has reduced the monthly cost of the drug from $60 to $30 for eligible recipients, and to $7.30 for those with concessions.

For our members at the Seniors Discount Club, this development is particularly reassuring. It means that managing heart health can now be done without the looming anxiety of unmanageable costs.

We encourage our readers to discuss these changes with their healthcare providers to understand how they can benefit from the PBS listings.

It's also a good time to review your current medications and see if there are more affordable options available to you.

To learn more about PBS, you can visit their website here: https://www.pbs.gov.au/pbs/home.

You can also learn more about hypertrophic cardiomyopathy here:

Source: Cleveland Clinic/YouTube​

Key Takeaways

• Two lifesaving medications for common heart conditions were listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), potentially saving patients up to $122,000 per year.
• The medications, mavacamten (Camzyos) and tafamidis (Vyndamax), will be more affordable for eligible patients from May 1.
• Vyndamax is used to treat symptomatic obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), which can cause heart failure if untreated.
• Health Minister Mark Butler highlighted the government's commitment to making medicines cheaper for Australians, with around 4,800 expected to benefit from the new PBS listings.

What are your thoughts on PBS and its role in making healthcare more accessible? Have you or a loved one been impacted by the cost of heart medications in the past? Share your experiences and insights in the comments below.

 

[Suzanne rose]

Life saving medication like heart and cancer meds should automatically be high priority.

My daughter has just started medication for her chronic asthma and lung problems. She needs to inject the medication every two weeks price up to recently was $1,100 now it's $32

 

[Clancieblue]

Life saving medication like heart and cancer meds should automatically be high priority.

My daughter has just started medication for her chronic asthma and lung problems. She needs to inject the medication every two weeks price up to recently was $1,100 now it's $32

I hope it helps her Suzanne, asthma is a very nasty disease and one that I think many people don't understand the seriousness of.

 

[Rob44]

What most of us fail to realise is the cost of the drugs that keep us going past our individual genetic 'use-by' dates i.e. alive. Just as one example the course of 15 anti-covid pills that alleviate C-19 cost$1100 plus or minus a few $. They, too are on the PBS at $31.60. Although there is clearly considerable investment in research to produce such stuff, one might wonder fairly just what is the profit per pill needed to cover the cost of that research and to maintain the pill-producing infrastructure. Last November another drug received approval to go on the PBS list; Nebequa i.e Darolutamide. A month's supply costs $3567. That one slows the spread of prostate cancer at PBS cost to the sufferer of $31.60 per month, and as about 1 in 6 males get that problem, that's a "big market" for the drug companies. So presumably according to modern economic theory the cost of that drug should diminish rapidly?