Gippsland MS Patients Face Uncertainty Over Vital PBS Medications
Gippsland residents living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) are anxiously awaiting the outcome of a Federal Government decision that could leave many without affordable access to two of the most effective treatments available for the disease.
Several local people who rely on the medications Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) and Kesimpta (ofatumumab) have raised concerns that if the drugs are removed from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), the cost of treatment could become unaffordable.
The Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee met this week to consider future pricing arrangements for the medications after manufacturers reportedly rejected a government request to reduce the cost of the treatments by 50 per cent. The outcome of those discussions has not yet been released.
The uncertainty has prompted local advocacy, with the Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester saying he had been contacted by several constituents worried about maintaining access to the medications that help keep their disease under control.
Mr Chester has since written to Federal Health and Aged Care Minister Mark Butler, urging the government to work constructively with all stakeholders to ensure both medications remain available through the PBS.
"If these MS treatments are removed from the PBS, it would have devastating consequences for many patients and families, limiting affordable access to proven treatments and reducing the choices available to people managing this complex condition," Mr Chester said.
"People living with MS deserve certainty, choice and affordable access to the medications their specialists believe are best suited to their care."
MS Australia Acting Chief Executive Officer Dr Julia Morahan said the organisation was not involved in negotiations over drug pricing but remained focused on ensuring Australians continued to have access to life-changing therapies.
"MS is a complex disease and no single therapy will be optimal for every individual or remain effective throughout every stage of their illness," Dr Morahan said.
"It is essential that clinicians and people living with MS continue to have access to a broad range of disease-modifying therapies so treatment can be tailored and adapted over time to achieve the best possible outcomes."
Ocrevus and Kesimpta are regarded as two of the most effective treatments for slowing the progression of MS and are commonly prescribed as first-line therapies. Research has shown they are particularly effective when treatment begins early, helping delay disability and allowing people to maintain their independence for longer.
The recently released Multiple Sclerosis Prevalence and Health Economic Impact in Australia 2025 report also found that effective MS treatments reduce long-term healthcare costs, lessen pressure on the National Disability Insurance Scheme and help keep people active in their communities and workplaces.
For Gippsland families affected by MS, the stakes are personal. Many fear that without PBS support, the cost of these medications would simply be beyond their reach, leaving them with fewer treatment options and uncertainty about their future.
