Very soon, 11 new drugs would be added to the pharmaceutical benefits scheme (PBS), as announced by Federal Health Minister Tanya Plibersek. These drugs would be available at cheaper prices and would benefit around 45,000 people every month.

The new listings include an easy to use portable inhaler, named Mannitol, for treating Australians suffering from cystic fibrosis. Cystic Fibrosis is a condition, in which the amount of mucus build-up in sufferers' lungs starts reducing. There are times when medicines already listed on PBS do not respond. In such times, Mannitol would work beneficially for both children above six years and adults. Along with this, government would also provide patients with access to new, affordable treatments for a range of ailments.

Besides, there are medicines for treating age-related macular degeneration, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, Parkinson's disease and bone marrow, prostate and kidney cancers.

The confusion rose, when following the announcement of new medicines, the government also announced to increase the price of six already existing PBS-listed medicines.

According to the Federal government, this price rise would affect only those who are currently below the co-payment for general patients. Others would have to pay between $0.57 and $3.54 only for those medicines.