Relief for asthma patients

A VICTORIAN with severe asthma who has been hospitalised more than 100 times can now take her medication at home.

Gayle Biggins, 64, has severe eosinophilic asthma, which occurs when there are too many eosinophils, a type of white blood cell in the blood and lungs, causing inflammation and an increased risk of asthma flare-ups.

Those with the condition can experience wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath and frequent, life-threatening attacks.

Mrs Biggins spent her teenage and adults years in hospital due to the debilitating condition. She was forced to retire early from teaching at 53.

Since April, she has taken the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)-listed medication Nucala but has to drive for an hour each month to get her dose.

From yesterday, a pre-filled auto-injector with the medication has been added to the scheme, allowing people like Ms Biggins to inject themselves at home.

Without the subsidy, patients had to fork out more than $20,000 a year for the treatment.

Hunter Medical Research Institute respiratory physician Peter Gibson said treatment options were important.

“It may help facilitate greater continuity of treatment and protect vulnerable patients as they will not necessarily have to visit a clinic to access their regular treatment,” Professor Gibson said.

Nucala was put on the PBS in 2017, with more than 1400 patients accessing it yearly.

More than 2.4 million Australians have asthma with estimates showing up to 10 per cent is severe.