New PBS listings for February 2008

Patients with deteriorating diabetic control and people who have severe dry eyes will benefit from changes to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) from 1 February 2008.

The extension to the listing of piolitazone hydrochloride (Actos®) means a further medication option for patients with deteriorating Type 2 diabetic control. Diabetes is a long-term condition characterised by high blood glucose levels resulting from the body producing little or no insulin. Specifically, Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin, or is unable to properly use the insulin it produces. Actos helps the body to use insulin.

About 3 per cent of the population report having diabetes as a long-term condition. It is a costly disease, associated with substantial morbidity and mortality, primarily from cardiovascular complications, eye and kidney diseases, and limb amputations. This extended listing will allow doctors to prescribe piolitazone hydrochloride in triple oral combination therapy with the anti-diabetic drugs metformin and sulfonylurea. It is expected to benefit about 6,000 patients between 2008 and 2012, at no additional cost to the PBS and Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

The listing of tamarindus indica seed polysaccharide (Visine Professional®) has been extended to allow it to be prescribed by optometrists. Visine Professional is a lubricant eye drop that helps people who have severe dry eyes. The single-use eye drop will provide another option for optometrists to treat patients with severe dry eyes who are sensitive to preservatives. This listing is expected to be cost neutral and will serve existing patient populations.

(Source: Sean Kelly: Department of Health and Ageing: February 2008)