Australia has some of the world’s highest melanoma rates, but now victims of the often lethal cancer have one less thing to worry about.

Patients with advanced melanoma will be reimbursed under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for a treatment called Opdualag, a combination of immunotherapies that help the body fight cancer.

On average, skin cancers claim the lives of one Australian dies every six hours.

But when Opdualag becomes available under the scheme from February 1, about 940 patients will benefit each year.

Health Minister Mark Butler said without the subsidy, these same patients could pay about $315,000 per course of treatment.

“With cheaper medicines we are supporting millions of Australians with chronic, ongoing conditions so they don’t have to choose between health care and paying the bills,” he said.

Melanoma patient Felicity Lloyd knows how expensive treatment can be.

The Adelaide mother was diagnosed with advanced melanoma in 2017.

Ms Lloyd was cleared of cancer after surgeries in 2013 only to discover a lump in her breast four years later.

Tests revealed it had spread throughout her body.

Multiple treatments required

Ms Lloyd required two sets of medication and while both were listed on the PBS, she said the subsidy required they be used in an order that did not best suit her situation.

Fortunately, her family was able to pay for one of the medications and she received compassionate access to another.

Ms Lloyd was cleared of cancer again but continues to undergo some treatment.

She is acutely aware that overcoming cancer can require multiple, costly treatments and welcomed the new addition to the PBS.

“It took multiple treatments for me to achieve no evidence of disease,” she said.

“Treatment and access to treatment is improving all the time.”

Co-medical director of Melanoma Institute Australia Professor Georgina Long said preventing melanoma remained paramount.

Immunotherapy was changing the approach to treatment of patients with advanced melanoma, Prof Long said, but more needed to be done.

Since the beginning of 2023, Australians have saved more than $240 million after the government lowered the maximum cost of prescription medications listed on the PBS.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says these are just a few of the measures that will help alleviate the cost of living.

“We know Australians have been doing it tough, which is why we are providing cost of living relief without adding to inflation,” he said.

-AAP