Vic: Government announces subsidies for Alzheimer s drugs

AAP General News (Australia)
12-21-2000
Vic: Government announces subsidies for Alzheimer s drugs

MELBOURNE, Dec 21 AAP - More than 30,000 Alzheimer's sufferers and their families received
an early Christmas present today with the announcement the federal government would subsidise
the only drugs available to combat the disease.

For three years, 5,000 sufferers have been able to delay the effects of Alzheimer's
and dementia by taking the drugs Aricept or Exelon at a cost of $200 a month.

With subsidies to come into effect on February 1 next year, pensioners will pay just
$3.90 a month while the cost to others has been reduced to less than $22.

Federal Health Minister Dr Michael Wooldridge said the $25 million subsidy would benefit
more than 25,000 people who would not otherwise be able to afford the drugs.

Alzheimer's Association of Victoria executive director Lynette Moore said clinical
trials showed the drugs had positive effects for two-thirds of people who tried them.

One-third of users showed an improvement and one-third showed a slowing down or stabilising
of the disease.

"In every day life the difference these drugs can make is best illustrated by the words
of people living with dementia and their families," Ms Moore said.

Sufferers taking the drug described "the fog in my mind clearing" and "the cottonwool
in my brain disappearing".

"I will never forget the face of an elderly woman light up as she said to me, 'It meant
(my husband) smiled again'," Ms Moore said.

Sufferer Alison Catlin, 69, began trials on Aricept and Exelon after being diagnosed
with Alzheimer's last February.

The difference was remarkable, she said.

She became less depressed and began to remember things around the house.

She could start cooking, cleaning and reading again.

"She is stable, she is happy, she has no mood swings. There is a quality of life which
has returned, most definitely," husband Fred Catlin said.

Without the subsidy the couple would have scrimped on other expenses to pay the $200
a month cost to ensure Mrs Catlin received the best care.

"It's a lot of money," Mr Catlin said.

"And I imagine so many people do not have that money to be able to go onto the drug.

"Pensioners couldn't possibly afford it."

Dr Wooldridge said the government had fast-tracked the drugs' inclusion on the Pharmaceutical
Benefits Scheme (PBS) with conditions - still being finalised - to apply.

Ms Moore said while the Alzheimer's Association was happy with the PBS listing, it
would continue to lobby the government to relax conditions to make the drug available
to everyone with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease.

AAP jmw/clr/gmw/bwl

KEYWORD: ALZHEIMERS NIGHTLEAD

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