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THE government should make cystic fibrosis drug Kalydeco easily available to families, Member for Bendigo Lisa Chesters says.
Ms Chesters said Health Minister Peter Dutton had the power to overturn restrictions for people looking to access the drug.
“I can understand the disappointment of our local Bendigo families who would have benefitted from Kalydeco being made available,” she said.
“I believe the government has set the bar far too high.”
Ms Chesters said despite the drug being available in countries including France, England, Germany, Italy and Greece, it would be out of reach of Goornong resident Amelia McCrohan.
“All Amelia’s family wants is for her to have a good life, a chance to live a good life like any other normal young kid,” she said.
“The Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee is independent and makes recommendations.
“I’m calling on the Minister to reject these conditions and step in on this one."
About 200 people could benefit from cystic fibrosis drug Kalydeco, Cystic Fibrosis Australia chief executive Michelle Skinner says.
Ms Skinner said in an open letter that Mr Dutton was “acutely aware of the disappointment and frustration felt by the cystic fibrosis community.”
She said there had been anxiety surrounding the negotiation process.
An advisory committee recommended the government only pay for the drug if patients met improvement benchmarks, which included increased lung capacity.