Can a patient visiting AU from a (RHCA) on a working holiday visa (subclass 417) have access to humira via (PBS)

[Dontwanafuse]

Hello everybody ,

Can a patient visiting Australia from a (RHCA) on a working holiday visa (subclass 417) have access to humira via (PBS) ? It's already being prescribed to me in the UK.

I'm looking at visiting Australia on a working holiday visa and hopefully being able to continue my treatment while I work/travel.

In an ideal world I'm hoping it will be as straightforward as, applying for visa. Bringing along a 3 month supply of medication, arriving in Australia. Applying for Medicare, arranging a rheumatologist. Transferring pre arranged medical records from existing rheumotogist in the UK, and then continuing Humira under the PBS scheme.

Unforchanetly I don't seem to be able to get a clear answer to this question from anybody? So I'm hoping maybe somebody on this forum may be able to shed some light ?

Thank you

 

[SauceySciencey]

I'm pretty sure you can.

https://www.tga.gov.au/entering-australia#exemption

 

[Dontwanafuse]

I'm pretty sure you can

Thanks SauceSciencey this clears up the issue with bringing Humira too Australia.

I would still like to find out if anybody visiting Australia from the Uk, or a RCHA Country has been successful with getting access to biologics like Humira via the pharmaceutical benefits scheme, to cover the amount of time they have spent in Australia ?

Also what sort of information did they have to bring from the rheumatologist, for the australian rheumatologist too make this possible ?

 

[SauceySciencey]

I'd actually email medicare here in Australia. There should be a contact for foreigners.

 

[Dontwanafuse]

Yeah tried that already, more than once. Also tweeted Medicare and various rheumatologists based in Sydney. No success. It's a tough one :sign0085:

 

[Dontwanafuse]

I even rang the consulate for Australia based in England and they could only advise looking on the Medicare website.

 

[Catherine]

https://rheumatology.org.au/downloads/FINAL-BiologicalRecommendations060111.pdf