Hospital Circulars 2005 - Department of Human Services, Victoria, Australia

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Hospital Circular 24 /2005

Date Issued: 27 November 2005

Distribution: Public Hospitals

Subject: Highly Specialised Drugs Program

Purpose: To advise hospitals of changes to the Highly Specialised Drugs Program, effective 1 December 2005.

We have had recent advice from the Commonwealth Government of changes to the Highly Specialised Drugs Program, effective 1 December 2005.

1. ADDED DRUG

Abacavir sulfate with lamivudine

Treatment of HIV infection in patients over 12 years of age, weighing 40 kg or more, with:
(a) CD4 cell counts of less than 500 per cubic millimetre; or
(b) viral load of greater than 10,000 copies per mL.

6458X

Tablet 600 mg (base)-300 mg

$564.00

Kivexa

2. PRICE CHANGES

Clarithromycin

6151R	Tablet 250 mg	100	$67.50	Klacid	AB
6152T	Tablet 500 mg	100	$135.00	Klacid	AB

Dornase alfa

6120D

Solution for inhalation 2.5 mg
(2,500 units) in 2.5 mL ampoule

$1,180.00

Pulmozyme

Interferon alfa-2a

6210W	Injection 3,000,000 i.u. in 0.5 mL single dose pre-filled syringe	1	$29.80	Roferon-A	RO
6211X	Injection 4,500,000 i.u. in 0.5 mL single dose pre-filled syringe	1	$44.70	Roferon-A	RO
6212Y	Injection 6,000,000 i.u. in 0.5 mL single dose pre-filled syringe	1	$59.58	Roferon-A	RO
6213B	Roferon-A RO Injection 9,000,000 i.u. in 0.5 mL single dose pre-filled syringe	1	$89.38	Roferon-A	RO

Interferon alfa-2b

6246R	Solution for injection 10,000,000 i.u. in 1 mL single dose vial	5	$496.50	Intron A	SH
6253D	Solution for injection 18,000,000 i.u. in 1.2 mL multi-dose injection pen	1	$178.74	Intron A Redipen	SH
6218G	Solution for injection 18,000,000 i.u. in 3 mL single dose vial	1	$178.74	Intron A	SH
6219H	Intron A SH Solution for injection 25,000,000 i.u. in 2.5 mL single dose vial	1	$248.25	Intron A	SH
6254E	Solution for injection 30,000,000 i.u. in 1.2 mL multi-dose injection pen	1	$297.90	Intron A Redipen	SH
6255F	Solution for injection 60,000,000 i.u. in 1.2 mL multi-dose injection pen	1	$595.80	Intron A Redipen	SH

3. AMENDED RESTRICTION

Lanreotide acetate
(Addition to existing restriction)

Patients with a histologically-confirmed diagnosis of a functional carcinoid tumour, experiencing on average over 1 week, 3 or more episodes per day of diarrhoea and/or flushing, which persists despite the use of anti-histamines, anti-serotonin agents and anti-diarrhoea agents, and for whom surgery or antineoplastic therapy has failed or is inappropriate.

Treatment must cease if there is failure to produce a clinically significant reduction in the frequency and severity of symptoms after 3 months' therapy at a dose of 120 mg every 28 days. Dosage and tolerance to the drug should be assessed regularly and the dosage should be titrated slowly downwards to determine the minimum effective dose.

6423C	Injection 60 mg (base) in single dose pre-filled syringe	1	$1,345.00	Somatuline Autogel	IS
6424D	Injection 90 mg (base) in single dose pre-filled syringe	1	$1,790.00	Somatuline Autogel	IS
6425E	Injection 120 mg (base) in single dose pre-filled syringe	1	$2,240.00	Somatuline Autogel	IS

4. DELETIONS

Ganciclovir

Maintenance therapy, after stabilisation with intravenous ganciclovir sodium, of cytomegalovirus retinitis in severely immunocompromised patients;

Prophylaxis of cytomegalovirus disease in bone marrow transplant patients at risk of cytomegalovirus disease;

Prophylaxis of cytomegalovirus disease in solid organ transplant patients at risk of cytomegalovirus disease.

6159E

Capsule 250 mg

$524.00

Cymevene

Item discontinued at the request of the manufacturer.

5. OTHER AMENDMENTS

Change in proprietary name from ‘Clozapine Synthon’ to ‘CloSyn’.

Changes notified by hospital circular will be updated in the Guidelines on the internet and the relevant claim forms amended.

WEB SITE ADDRESS: www.health.vic.gov.au/hsdp

Noreen Dowd
Director, Programs
Metropolitan Health & Aged Care Services

Last updated: 14 August, 2009
This web site is managed and authorised by the Metropolitan Health and Aged Care Services Division of the Victorian State Government, Department of Health, Australia

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