$187,000 to $6.30: Turnbull drug subsidy gives hope to cancer sufferers

By Adam Gartrell, Health Correspondent
Updated October 23 2017 - 9:43am, first published October 11 2017 - 2:53pm
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 8:  Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull pays a visit to North Bondi SLSC to promote the introduction of a new updated cervical canncer drug GARDASIL 9 for the Human Papillomavirus to be introduced to teenagers.Pictured with Health minuster Greg Hunt on the left and Dr Ian Frazer on the right on October 8, 2017 in Sydney, Australia.  (Photo by Ben Rushton/Fairfax Media)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 8: Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull pays a visit to North Bondi SLSC to promote the introduction of a new updated cervical canncer drug GARDASIL 9 for the Human Papillomavirus to be introduced to teenagers.Pictured with Health minuster Greg Hunt on the left and Dr Ian Frazer on the right on October 8, 2017 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Ben Rushton/Fairfax Media)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - October 08 . Jim Coomes sits in his backyard on October 08, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia.

Jim is 75 years old, lives in East Melbourne and was diagnosed with CLL four years ago. At that time he was given 18 months to live. He has been taking Imbruvica for 3 years after being given compassionate access and he says he feels fantastic. He's still working as a town planner / property developer but his wife is trying to get him to retire. (Photo by Darrian Traynor)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - October 08 . Jim Coomes sits in his backyard on October 08, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. Jim is 75 years old, lives in East Melbourne and was diagnosed with CLL four years ago. At that time he was given 18 months to live. He has been taking Imbruvica for 3 years after being given compassionate access and he says he feels fantastic. He's still working as a town planner / property developer but his wife is trying to get him to retire. (Photo by Darrian Traynor)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 8:  Robert Donone, 68, Cancer survivor who now volunteers at the Dobroyd Aquatic Club at Rodd Point on OCTOBER 8, 2017 in Sydney, Australia.  (Photo by Ben Rushton/Fairfax Media)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 8: Robert Donone, 68, Cancer survivor who now volunteers at the Dobroyd Aquatic Club at Rodd Point on OCTOBER 8, 2017 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Ben Rushton/Fairfax Media)

A breakthrough leukaemia and lymphoma drug that normally costs $187,000 per treatment will become easily affordable under a new $460 million Turnbull government subsidy.

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