Another example of health promotion action

This article appeared in today's Herald. I've just included an exerpt, but it demonstrates government action through the PBS to provide financial support for people with cancer. Healthy Public Policy? Supportive Environments? Either way it is an example of the New Public Health approach.

"Huge subsidy for life-saving cancer drugs"

• Kerry-Anne Walsh
• May 3, 2009

BOWEL and breast cancer patients will receive enormous financial help in the budget, with the Government set to pump $600 million into subsidising expensive medicines.

From July 1, Avastin, the drug used to treat advanced bowel cancer, will be subsidised for new patients under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) at a four-year cost to the Government of $310 million.

Patients such as Scott Gillon, 40, who has bowel and lung cancer, have paid $20,000 for the first nine treatments with Avastin, which is delivered intravenously as one of a cocktail of chemotherapy drugs.

The Sydneysider, who has a young family, yesterday applauded the Government's upcoming budget announcement, claiming the subsidy would lift the huge financial strain on bowel cancer patients.