For the first time in more than 30 years, the Federal Government has announced a new subsidy for an endometriosis treatment— Visanne.
Endometriosis (or endo) is a medical condition in which tissue similar to the lining of a uterus grows elsewhere in the body.
On Sunday, the Government added a medication called dienogest – sold as Visanne – to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
Overall, it will cost around $32 for 28 pills.
Background
More than one million Australians have endometriosis. It can cause debilitating pain in the pelvic region, and can be associated with infertility.
Around 40,000 hospital admissions in Australia each year are due to endometriosis.
When a medication is listed on the PBS, the Government subsidises the cost to make it more affordable and accessible to patients. No new endometriosis medications have been added to the PBS in 30 years.
Visanne
Dienogest, aka Visanne, shrinks endometrial tissue. It can be prescribed by a GP.
Under the PBS, Visanne now costs $31.60 per box of 28 pills. For the average patient, Visanne will cost $412 a year, compared to $750 a year without the subsidy.
Health Minister Mark Butler said for patients with concession cards, the medication could now cost “as little as $7” per box.
Response
Butler said endo “is a condition that impacts… maybe one in seven women and teenage girls, and for too long too many women have been made to suffer in silence”.
Further, Co-founder of endometriosis advocacy group EndoActive Syl Freedman said Visanne’s PBS listing is “wonderful news for endo patients.”
Visanne is manufactured by multi-national pharmaceutical company Bayer. Its Australia/New Zealand CEO
Manoj Saxena said the PBS listing “is an important step towards addressing inequalities in women’s health access”.
