The announcement that the oral COVID-19 treatment, Lagevrio, has been listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme has been welcomed by the Pharmacy Guild of Australia.
The treatment was granted provisional approval by the Therapeutic Goods Administration in January and was listed from 1 March.
The National President of the Guild, Professor, Trent Twomey, said the listing was an important step in providing treatment for people suffering from COVID-19.
“This is a great a solution for the care of patients and the management of the disease,” Professor Twomey said.
“This should be the forerunner of other treatments being made available on the PBS and I urge other companies with treatments to follow the process to achieve Section 85 listing.
“Having these treatments available on the PBS is in the best interests of patients across the whole country.”
Professor Twomey said companies with COVID-19 treatments needed to apply for PBS listing as soon as possible.
“Patients are asking for these treatments and as we move into the phase of management of the disease, access to these medicines is essential,” Professor Twomey said.
“The PBS is the optimum vehicle enabling patients to access essential medicines.”
