Australian Crusader Leaves Legacy of Affordable Mesothelioma Treatment

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January 21, 2008

An Australian victim of mesothelioma won a political war that has guaranteed affordable treatment of the disease. As everywhere, the cases of mesothelioma in Australia are on the rise, year after year. More and more victims are coming forward and until recently, have found that treatment for the disease in its advanced stages was prohibitively expensive.

The drug Alimta has proven to be effective in extending the lives of mesothelioma patients and to make them more comfortable while living with the affliction. On the open market, however, cost to many consumers was $20,000 for six treatments. Half of Australia’s citizens living in certain areas of the country were covered through government subsidy – and half were not.

The government’s drug advisory body had rejected subsidy for many citizens – with much controversy. This put the price of the drug beyond the reach of many Australians, while it was being provided at a subsidized level for smokers who had contracted lung cancer.

Mesothelioma patient Bernie Banton led a high profile campaign in earlier years to get a $4.5 billion subsidy fund established for mesithelioma patients. That fund was established by corporate giant James Hardie Corp. – the firm for which Mr. Banton had worked for many years, and where he was exposed to asbestos.

His final effort resulted in the subsidy for Altima provided for all Australian victims of the disease – news which he received on his deathbed. His recognition and popularity were such that he forced the government to forego standard procedures and expand the subsidy to all Australians through the use of written petitions. Today a single Altima treatment will cost any Australian citizen $31.30.

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