13 new drugs will be subsidized by the government starting September 1, including a late-stage bowel cancer drug, Erbitux. Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon has replied to a campaign by some of Australia's health industry that the government is delaying decisions on a range of drugs recommended for subsidies under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

The campaign which includes groups from Diabetes Australia, the AIDS Council of NSW and Alzheimer's Australia has placed added pressure to the government to place more medicines for subsidy. The government has deferred deciding on a list of seven medicines, including drugs for schizophrenia, lung disease and blood clots despite recommendations from the expert Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBA) according to a report from the Sydney Morning Herald.

The opposition has also added its criticism of the government's delay saying that more Australians could die because of the government's postponement of subsidizing crucial medicines. Peter Dutton, the opposition's health spokesman, has attacked the government's failure to add Erbitux on the PBS. The government's failure according to Mr. Dutton has already resulted in a man on Queensland's Sunshine Coast to die waiting for the drug to be subsidized.

"This is a government that has sat on the decision that has delayed the listing that has caused pain on families and sufferers of this cancer.

"And by not listing Erbitux by the 1st of September not only are they driving up the cost for patients - $1,500 a week I might say - they also risk losing more lives."

Erbitux has been added to the benefits scheme, along with 12 other drugs at a cost of more than $200 million. The new drugs include treatments for cystic fibrosis and MS. Ms. Roxon said that the addition will bring relief to patients with these conditions. At the same time she also warned the opposition that it would be harder to list innovative new drugs on the PBS if they are blocked in parliament.

Although still concerned over the government's power to add or reject drugs to be subsidized, health groups welcomed the announcement, after a week of vigorous letter writing campaign to all MPs and senators.