The Government has indefinitely deferred the addition of a new Schizophrenia medication from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme despite protests from carers and against the advice of their advisory committee. Gina McKeon reports.

Invega Sustenna is injected once a month into the arm. Image: Sarah G

Carers and support groups of schizophrenia sufferers have spoken out against the Government, saying the deferral of a new injectable medication from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) denies those with the illness the chance of a better quality of life.

The latest medical treatment, Invega Sustenna, has been indefinitely deferred from being listed on the PBS, against the recommendations of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC).

Carol Bennett, chief executive of the Consumer Health Forum said: “They’ve deferred it because of costs … [the Government] could see an opportunity to make short-term savings on the PBS, which is short-sighted at best.”

Certain drugs have been deferred from being included in the PBS if a satisfactory alternative has already been listed, such as the injectable medication Risperdal Consta for schizophrenia sufferers.

Risperdal Consta is required every two weeks and is injected in the buttocks, while Invega Sustenna is required on a monthly basis and can be injected into the arm.

“That extra appointment [to administer Risperdal Contra] for someone who is struggling to cope [and] has a serious mental illness, getting to a clinic for an appointment can be a very big issue … the alternative does not reduce the burden on the person with the illness or their carers,” said Bennett.

Barbara Hocking, executive director of SANE Australia, has said the new medication would also provide sufferers with more freedom in their daily lives by having the choice to use Sustenna if the other options listed on the PBS have not worked for them.

“It’s mainly the ease of administration and the frequency which means that you’ve got much more freedom to get on and get yourself recovered … if someone is managing their illness better through Sustenna the chances of them getting back to work would be higher.”

Hocking also said that the carers involved with schizophrenia treatment should not be ignored when making the listing decision.

“Never underestimate that the convenience is also for health workers … it’s much better for the person administering and better for the person receiving it. When you’re dealing with people who have not been helped by the current medication you really [want] to make sure that there’s as much choice as possible,” he said.

Mark, a long-term sufferer of schizophrenia, said the new drug would increase a feeling of normality for those who require the injections: “People could get on with their lives a bit more rather than having so much contact with the mental health team.”

Rob Ramjan, chief executive of the Schizophrenia Fellowship of NSW, said Risperdal Consta is not even an equivalent to Invega Sustenna, and believes the new medication is more cost-effective for the Government in the long-term as it reduces hospitalisation costs.

“People are then more likely to be consistent with their medication … you then diminish quite significantly the chance of relapse.

“If someone goes back into hospital [after missing a dose] that costs about $1300 a day; this medication costs about $2500 per year.”

Bennett agrees: “In the long run, the PBAC have determined that having [Sustenna included in the PBS] would reduce costs to the health system.”

The PBAC was unable to comment and the Department of Health and Ageing has yet to respond to requests for comment.