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Peter is part of Australia’s ‘silent epidemic’. A new initiative offers hope
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Peter is part of Australia’s ‘silent epidemic’. A new initiative offers hope

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More than 65,000 Australians are expected to benefit from cheaper access to a chronic kidney disease drug recently added to the Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme (PBS).
Jardiance, also known as Empagliflozin, is a medication that may slow kidney damage over time and help maintain kidney function longer.
Health Minister Mark Butler says it is a life-changing drug for many Australians.

“Last year we listed Jardiance for a limited group of Australians with a certain type of kidney disease. But from Saturday we believe an additional 70,000 Australians with kidney disease will be eligible for this life-changing drug,” he said on Tuesday.

According to the 2021 Census, around 1 per cent of Australia’s population suffers from kidney disease, with one in 20 Australians aged 75 and over diagnosed with the disease.

‘It’s going to make a big difference’

Peter Brown, who was diagnosed with kidney disease two years ago and is relying on medication to improve his condition, said he was happy to hear his upcoming medication bill could be cheaper
“It’s going to make a big difference, and the fact that $7.70 is a big difference when you calculate it over 12 months,” Brown said, referring to Jardiance’s single-script concession ticket rate.

For eligible patients without a concession card, a script now costs $31.60. Starting next year, the price will be further reduced to $25.

Health Minister Mark Butler says Jardiance, also known as Empagliflozin, is changing lives for many Australians. Source: MONKEY / Mick Tsikas

Butler said kidney disease was a silent epidemic in Australia.

“We think more than two and a half million Australians have kidney disease, but less than 10 percent of them are aware of it because the signs and symptoms of kidney disease usually only become apparent when 90 percent loss of kidney function has already occurred.”
Professor Carol Pollock, chair of Kidney Health Australia, also emphasizes the importance of carrying out health checks to detect asymptomatic disease.
“To detect kidney disease, we really need a blood test, a blood pressure check and a urine test. And some people will have some of these tests done, but not always together, and we really need the three of them,” she said.
“And what we would like to see is a kidney health check, which means people getting those things done and then understanding what the risk of the kidney disease might be so that it can be treated appropriately.”

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