Hi Stephen, don't know if this is useful for you, I hope so - in a nice way. Take care, regards Janie.
Heart attack victims are set to benefit from drugs newly listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
The new listing, released on Sunday, means all Australians who suffer a heart attack will now have immediate access to the heart drug clopidogrel, drug companies Sanofi-Aventis and Bristol-Myers Squibb say.
Previously patients had to suffer and survive two heart attacks before they were eligible to receive the subsidised treatment through the PBS.
Clopidogrel is marketed as Plavix and Iscover and is for treatment of Acute Coronary Syndromes (ACS).
Professor Phillip Aylward, from Flinders Medical Centre in Adelaide said it was a win-win situation for both patients and the Australian health system.
"Patients with ACS are at high risk of experiencing recurrent heart-related events, such as repeat heart attacks, stroke or even death," he said in a statement.
"Providing patients with access to clopidogrel through the PBS after their first heart attack is in line with national clinical guidelines and the worldwide gold standard treatment."
He said the move would also reduce the burden on the nation's health and hospital system by reducing hospitalisations for secondary ACS events.