PEOPLE who suffer from severe eosinophilic asthma will now have better access to a self-administered medicine device through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
Professor Peter Gibson, a respiratory specialist at the Hunter Medical Research Institute, said the reimbursement of a pre-filled pen - or autoinjector - by the government would allow more patients to self-administer an asthma medication, called Nucala, at home.
Professor Gibson, who was involved in the research and development of the drug, said severe eosinophilic asthma was a debilitating condition that prevented people from attending work or school. He said patients could suffer "lung attacks" between two and 10 times a year.
"It is severely incapacitating," he said.
"They can't go to work, they couldn't go to school, and sometimes they end up in hospital because of that. They require intensive treatment. Very frequent use of puffers to relieve the symptoms, as well as the need for systemic tablets to reduce the inflammation and get them through these severe episodes."
Professor Gibson said giving these patients an opportunity to administer their medication at home would offer them greater flexibility, and freedom.
"Not knowing when a severe attack is going to happen is very anxiety-provoking, and people with severe asthma live with this every day," he said.
"People in remote areas have had to travel many hours to receive specialist attention and medication, this frees up them to now receive the treatment locally.
"This gives flexibility to people with asthma, and with flexibility, they have more freedom."
