AAP
Nicotine patches and other anti-smoking drugs will be subsidised by taxpayers as part of a federal government bid to help addicts kick the habit.
A $340 million package unveiled by the government will also pay for drugs to treat men with prostate conditions, bone marrow disease sufferers and patients with a rare blood disorder.
Concession card holders will be able to access patches to quit smoking under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) from February next year, the Ministry for Health announced.
The plans were announced as part of a major drugs funding initiative to combat several different cancers.
Health Minister Nicola Roxon said the scheme was "world-leading."
"Cancer scars the lives of too many Australians and we know that reducing the smoking rate is one of the most effective ways to reduce the rate of death from this terrible disease," she said.
The extension of the anti-smoking drug varenicline (Champix) will also assist smokers wanting to quit.
Tens of thousands of Australians with prostate disease and bone marrow disorders will benefit with access to Dutasteride (Avodart) to treat benign prostate enlargement and Azacitidine (Vidaza) to help to extend the lives of people suffering from bone marrow disorders.
In addition, from January 1, Australians suffering from a rare blood disorder will have access to Soliris (eculizumab), used to treat the disorder paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria or PNH, through the Life Saving Drugs Program.
"I know this will be welcome Christmas news to those 73 patients across Australia needing access to this very expensive drug," Ms Roxon added.
Anti-smoking group Quit spokeswoman Fiona Sharkie said while the government's decision to increase the tobacco tax motivated people to give up cigarettes, the changes to the PBS offered those who couldn't afford patches the support they needed.
"These two policies together will really help smokers butt out for good," she said on Thursday.
"We commend the government for recognising that."
Ms Sharkie said the cost of a four-week course of nicotine patches was currently between $100 and $140, and the smallest available pack of patches cost two to three times as much as a pack of cigarettes.
But under the new subsidised arrangements, smokers who get a doctor's prescription for patches can receive a four-week course for approximately $5.40 to $33.30, she added.
Australian Council on Smoking and Health president Mike Daube agreed the news would encourage more people to give up.
"We do know that smokers see the cost of patches as a disincentive to buying them," he told ABC Radio.
"this gives them a financial boost, it also means that one of the important barriers to quitting is no longer there."
Professor Daube said the cost of subsidising patches was small compared with treating smoking-related diseases later.
Taxpayers to subsidise smoking patches
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