Shadow Health Minister Senator Anne Ruston excoriated the Albanese Government over newborn bloodspot screening, while a patient leader accused political leaders of gaslighting on the PBS in response to US criticism of the program.
Senator Ruston spoke at the Pfizer Invites event in Sydney yesterday, taking questions from the audience in a session hosted by Managing Director and Medicines Australia deputy chair Anne Harris.
Better Access Australia chair Felicity McNeill PSM asked Senator Ruston about the Albanese Government's failure to implement its 2022 pre-election commitment to add dozens of conditions to Australia's newborn bloodspot screening program.
"Three years ago, the Prime Minister promised to adopt the US 80 newborn screening programs nationally across Australia. $95 million later, we don't have one disease added due to the process they introduced, and they've restarted the postcode lottery...If you were elected, would you consider legislating to make sure that the national newborn blood spot screening is implemented state at a state level in federal level as was promised?" asked Ms McNeill.
Senator Ruston said, "Well, can I just say that I have been horrified through this whole process around what hasn't been delivered. I'm absolutely committed to working with every area that newborn blood screening would apply to make sure that we get those families or Australians access to screening and support."
She continued, "Well, you've told us that as a first-term government, and this is a classic example of something that was promised three years ago and hasn't been delivered, but I can't think of anything that is more important than making sure that we get access to the support care treatments, diagnosis, identification, testing of babies."
In a discussion before Senator Ruston's appearance, Rare Cancers Australia co-founder Richard Vines accused some political leaders of gaslighting patients in their response to US criticism of the PBS.
Mr Vines said Australia's system of health technology assessment is often presented as if it's the 'eleventh commandment' and that the response to longstanding US criticism of the PBS risks 'poisoning the well' for serious reform.
He said it is unconscionable that Australian patients are denied access to approved treatments while the government engages in price negotiations with companies.
