A big thanks to the 360 people who signed Jeffrey’s petition to the Australian government requesting that the House consider extending to all Australian Citizens the NSW arrangements introduced in 2015 for the payment of co-payments for those suffering from cancer and chronic illness.
Jeffrey has received a letter from Parliament with the following information:
Petition number: EN0831
Date submitted: 31/12/2018
Number of signatures: 360
Reason: Request that the House consider extending to all Australian Citizens the NSW arrangements introduced in 2015 for the payment of co-payments for those suffering from cancer and chronic illness.
Request: We therefore ask the House to support that the Federal Government in Australia introduces a consistent policy throughout the country, following the example made by New South Wales in 2015, whereby the Federal Government will pay patient co-payments for Section 100 (s100) drugs and medicines to help ease the financial burden for people with cancer and other chronic conditions. This will assist people living with cancer, as well as those with conditions such as HIV, patients with organ and tissue transplants, schizophrenia, hepatitis, Crohn´s disease, ulcerative colitis, cystic fibrosis, psoriatic and rheumatoid arthritis, and severe allergic asthma and rare diseases, particularly those affecting children, including juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Chronic disease knows no barrier in terms of race, colour, creed, where you live or your status in life. Australian Citizens pay taxes and Medicare federally, and as such all Australian Citizens should receive the same preferential benefit that has been allowed to be introduced in NSW.
The petition was considered at a recent meeting of the Committee, and certified as meeting the requirements for petitions. It was presented to the House on 18/02/2019 and has recently been referred to the Minister for Health. Under the petition requirements, Ministers have 90 days from presentation in the House to respond to a petition.
We will keep you updated as more information comes to hand. Huge thanks to Jeffrey for helping us advocate for equitable access to treatment regardless of where you live around Australia.
