Australian gov't to subsidize breast, bowel and kidney cancer

CANBERRA, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Australian federal government said on Sunday it
will allocate 600 million Australian dollars (432 million U.S. dollars) in the
upcoming budget to subsidize expensive bowel, breast and kidney cancer drugs.

"I think it's a sign that while we are in tough economic times, we still
are determined to do the things that are needed to help people in very
vulnerable circumstances," Health Minister Nicola Roxon told local media Ten
Network.

Roxon said that from July, the bowel cancer drug Avastin will be subsidized
under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, which will cost the government about
311 million Aust dollars (223.9 million U.S. dollars) over the next four years.

"These drugs are expensive. We've made room for them to be able to be
funded. Sutent, Avastin and Herceptin deal with some of the most severe forms of
cancer ... bowel cancer and breast cancer," Roxon said.

Listing the drugs will mean new patients suffering advanced bowel cancer
will pay about 33 Aust dollars (23.75 U.S. dollars) for Avastin instead of more
than 2,000 Aust dollars (1440 U.S. dollars).

Sufferers of metastatic breast cancer will also receive a boost with the
free Herceptin program at a cost of 166 million Aust dollars (119.5 million U.S.
dollars).

With the free Herceptin program, patients will save about 60,000 Aust
dollars (43,200 U.S. dollars) a year.