Cervical cancer drug to be subsidised

Cervical cancer sufferers will now get taxpayer subsidised access to a life-saving drug that was previously out of reach for many at $55,000 per course of treatment.

Health Minister Sussan Ley has opted to allocate $60 million to list Bevacizumab (Avastin) on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme for cases of cervical cancer where surgery and radiation is not a viable treatment.

The move is expected to save the lives of more than 200 women, who will now pay just $6.20 per script if they're a concessional patient or $38.30 if they're a general patient.