Thousands of Australians suffering from chronic kidney disease will soon get better access to a life-changing medicine that slows the progression of the silent killer.
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The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme will be expanded on Thursday to include dapagliflozin, a drug that helps damaged kidneys function better.
"Now we have more tools that GPs can work with to help slow the progression and prevent kidney disease leading to kidney failure," Chris Forbes, Kidney Health Australia chief executive, said on Wednesday.
"We can get in front of this silent killer."
About one in 10 Australians suffer from KDR, with Indigenous Australians impacted at four times the rate of non-Indigenous people.
Many sufferers lose up to 90 per cent of their kidney function before they are diagnosed, leading to the need for life-long dialysis.
"For so long we've had to focus on kidney failure, diabetes, hyper-tension and it really is a burden on the patient and a burden on the health care system," Mr Forbes said.
Dapagliflozin, which is already used to treat diabetes and heart failure, treats proteinuric chronic kidney disease by blocking a protein in the kidney.
This allows blood sugar, salt and water to be removed from the body through urine, which helps slow the decline in kidney function and reduces the need for many suffers to undergo dialysis.
"Every day not on dialysis is a good day. We're very excited by it," Mr Forbes said.
Chronic kidney disease is estimated to cost the Australian health system approximately $5.1 billion per year.
Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health Malarndirri McCarthy said dapagliflozin's inclusion in the subsidy scheme would likely help about 45,000 patients.
They'll be able to save hundreds of dollars annually, with each script reduced to $42.50 or just $6.80 for people with a concession card.
Ms McCarthy said the treatment could also save many Indigenous Australians with the disease having to leave their communities for dialysis in regional centres.
"This is about prevention to try and stop people getting to the dialysis phase," she said.
"I want to see more families being able to stay where they are without having to go to larger hospitals or interstate."
Australian Associated Press
