Budget delivers life-changing breast cancer medication

The Turnbull Government has announced in the 2018-19 Budget the listing of a life-changing breast cancer medicine on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme that would otherwise cost patients around $71,820 per year. Federal Member for Forde Bert van Manen MP said the investment of $703.6 million would mean more than 3000 Australian patients with inoperable or…

Free whooping cough vaccine for pregnant women

The Turnbull Government will provide the whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine to every pregnant woman in the country, protecting both baby and mother from this life-threatening disease. Federal Member for Forde Bert van Manen MP said the $39.5 million investment would add the vaccine to the National Immunisation Program, guaranteeing its access, safety and availability for…

Life-saving medicine added to PBS

The Turnbull Government will provide $241 million to list a vital and life-saving medicine which treats Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), cutting the cost to patients in Forde by hundreds of thousands of dollars. Federal Member for Forde Bert van Manen MP said from June 1 this year, the Government would make Spinraza available on the…

Lifeline funding boost to support mental health

The Turnbull Government will provide $33.8 million to Lifeline to significantly boost their telephone crisis service and help those with mental health issues in Forde. Over one million Australians reach out to Lifeline each year and it receives the largest call volume of any crisis support service. Federal Member for Forde Bert van Manen MP…

Medicare record for patients in Forde

The latest Medicare data from July 2017 to March 2018 shows Australian patients have set a new record for the highest GP bulk-billing rate ever achieved for this period – increasing to 85.8 per cent nationwide. Federal Member for Forde Bert van Manen MP said locally in the south east Queensland region, the bulk billing…

$8500 awarded to Men’s Sheds in Forde

Beenleigh District Men’s Shed and Pimpama Men’s Shed have both been awarded Turnbull Government Grants as part of the National Shed Development Programme. Federal Member for Forde Bert van Manen MP said he was pleased to share the great news with the two Men’s Sheds, who do tremendous work in the local community. “Pimpama Men’s…

Life-saving medicines added to the PBS

The Turnbull Government will drastically reduce the cost of a life-saving new medicine, which uses a patient’s own immune system to track down and destroy cancer cells. Federal Member for Forde Bert van Manen MP said from May 1, classical Hodgkin’s lymphoma patients would no longer pay over $200,000 per course of treatment, now only…

Record Medicare bulk billing rate in Forde

More patients in Forde and the neighbouring Rankin electorate are seeing their doctor without paying a cent, with the bulk-billing rate increasing to a record 85.8 per cent in the first half of the 2017–18 financial year. This is the highest GP bulk-billing rate on record for the July to December period and it is…