South Pacific

After the lowest annual increases in 18 years, relief appears to have been short-lived.

More Australians with cystic fibrosis will be able to buy medications at a significantly reduced cost after the federal government announced new subsidies.

Half a million Australians will tomorrow have access to cheaper medication, when 175 common prescription drugs are added to the PBS.

It is estimated more than 500,000 Australians will have access to cheaper medicines when new products are added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) on Tuesday.

Do new cancer drugs work? Too often we don’t really know (and neither does your doctor).

Australia is in the grip of a drug crisis involving prescription medication.

“There’s a hidden cost of cancer that people don’t think about.”

Dave Roberts is fighting for his life, and his doctor says there is only one option left to him, an immunotherapy treatment called Kymriah.

Australian mother Deb Ware is in a race to save her son from a crippling addiction to opioids.

AP journalist Kristen Gelineau shares her experience reporting on the opioid crisis across Australia.

Like in the U.S., the problem has hit the country’s poorest areas the hardest. One region of Tasmania _ Australia’s poorest state _ has more opioid prescriptions than people.

Australia is following the same ominous course as the United States, with skyrocketing rates of opioid prescriptions and related deaths.

Government unveils national cancer agency and $60 million injection into Pharmac.

Pharmac, the agency charged with purchasing affordable drugs has long been seen as the jewel in their health system, has come under fire for not funding enough drugs, or not funding them fast enough.

New Zealand is one of only two developed countries, along with the US, that permits direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription medicines.