PBAC decision discriminatory
Mental health charity SANE Australia today condemned the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee’s decision to deny public subsidy for nicotine patches.

‘This decision is short-sighted and discriminates against people with a mental illness who want to quit’, says SANE Executive Director, Barbara Hocking.

People with a mental illness have one of the highest smoking rates (65%) of any group in Australia, and are being killed at two and a half times the rate of other Australians by diseases mainly attributable to smoking. They have a 30% greater chance of dying from cancer and their biggest killer is heart disease. This produces a great cost to the health system and an enormous social and personal cost to those affected.  

‘Very many people wish to quit but do not have the finances to pay the full cost for anti-smoking products. With an unemployment rate among this group of 72% it is not unusual for smokers with a mental illness to spend most of their disposable income on cigarettes’, said Ms Hocking. ‘One woman with schizophrenia has 90c spending money a day, after paying for cigarettes and housing. This means no money left to pay for heating, telephone, visiting friends, let alone buying nicotine patches.’ she said.

The PBAC’s previous decision to fund anti-smoking medication Zyban is unhelpful for most people with a mental illness as it carries the risk of provoking psychosis and seizures. By blocking ready access to nicotine patches to help them reduce or quit smoking, the Federal government is failing to support this vulnerable group.

People with mental illness can quit smoking. SANE Australia has developed a group SmokeFree program, and other resources. The use of nicotine patches is integral to these programs and is endorsed by Guidelines for GPs supporting smokers with schizophrenia who wish to quit, which have been developed by SANE in association with the University of Melbourne and supported by Human Services Victoria and Quit Victoria.

Lorraine Chiroiu
Media Contact
SANE Australia
campaign@sane.org
03 9682 5933
0414 427 291
www.sane.org

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Last Modified: 04-02-2003 19:49:38