The family of a man fighting to overcome leukaemia has issued an impassioned plea to Canberra lawmakers to "fast track" the availability of specialist drugs.
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Chris Brugger is a local identity in Griffith because of his public push to ensure a trial drug is listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) – a move that would significantly reduce the $16,000 price tag per dosage.
The campaign took a dramatic leap forward earlier this week when the Bruggers fronted a Senate inquiry into cancer medication.
Chris’s wife, Naomi, told the inquiry all new drugs should assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Mrs Brugger argued cancer patients accepted the risk associated with the drugs, and said the drug known as Brentuximab Vedotin had worked for them.
“It’s just done really good things for him,” she said.
Senator Nick Xenophon said there was an “urgent need” for specialst drug reform.
“He’s alive today because of this drug and it’s been such a struggle for the family to deal with that I think that this indicates there’s urgent need for reform of cancer medication to people like Chris and his family,” he said.
