 |
 |
---Just to let you know that sometimes you can beat city hall. For all those that have been following the Tasmar adventures downunder I'll recap- The Government passed the drug for use but another group of "experts" called The Pharmaceutical Advisory Board knocked it back for subsidy by the pharmaceutical benefits scheme on the basis it was another enzyne blocker like Eldepryl(Deprynll), which was cheaper and already available. As we all know they act entirely differently and can not be compared. They reviewed it three times, giving it the thumbs down each time putting it out of the reach of most patients($220 to $300 for a months supply). I encouraged a letter writing campaign and finished up taking three prominent neurologists to Canberra last week to explain to the health ministers department the importance of the medication for some pd sufferers. The letter writing(over 300 were received) a press campaign with two prominent TV news shows picking up on it seemed to show the politicians we meant business and last Friday the PBS reversed its decision. Never say never! Peter Dawkins