Latest news with #PharmaceuticalBenefitsScheme
The Australian
6 hours ago
- Business
- The Australian
New treatment allows cancer patients to avoid going under the knife
You can now listen to The Australian's articles. Give us your feedback. You can now listen to The Australian's articles. Australian hospitals have adopted a new combination chemotherapy for bladder cancer that has brought remission rates to 60 per cent, taking patients out from under the knife. A blend of the drugs Gemcitabine and Docetaxel has seen patients sidestep side effects while cutting rates of surgical bladder removal since being trialled at Monash Health in 2023, with the treatment now available to hospitals. Hailed as a means to 'change the whole protocol for the treatment of bladder cancer', the combination takes medications already made affordable by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme to an eligible population of thousands of patients. The drugs are referred to collectively as Gem-Doce. It represents the first non-surgical alternative in bladder cancer treatment since the decades-old introduction of tuberculosis drug Bacillus Calmette-Guerin, for which supply is volatile. Retired teacher Alan Feher, 72, was a successful recipient of the combination therapy after he was diagnosed with aggressive bladder cancer. He had been late to catch his cancer, given he is colour blind and missed the most obvious symptom of blood in his urine. He was also misdiagnosed with an enlarged prostate in 2018 before landing on the true cause of his symptoms. 'It's quite by accident that the process started because I was mainly concerned about prostate cancer, and didn't have much idea about bladder cancer,' he said. 'The biopsy showed two things: that it was a non-invasive bladder cancer, and it was also high grade. 'The urologist said it was normal to remove the bladder and the prostate … that's looking at quite radical surgery, which would have meant having some kind of a bag hanging off of my body, where the kidneys redirected outside of my body … I nearly fainted when I heard that.' Facing the prospect of surgery, his entrance into the 2023 drug trial led him into remission. Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand president Damien Bolton welcomed the successful combination therapy, pointing to rising death rates from bladder cancer as an indication of how necessary new treatments were. Its lethality has risen in line with Australia's ageing population. Weranja Ranasinghe. Picture: Monash Health Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand president Damien Bolton. 'One way we can hold back and hopefully cure bladder cancer is not by having a big operation to remove your bladder and give you a stoma, or by having chemotherapy and radiation which have serious toxicities, but by putting different anti-cancer agents into the bladder, and this combination … Gem-Doce, is a huge step forward for that,' he said. 'Since the time of Covid, there's been a shortage worldwide of BCG … in Australia, like many countries around the world, we've had to ration our use. 'Now with Gem-Doce, you've got the ability to reserve BCG for when it's most needed, and you've got another viable alternative.' Professor Bolton said he hoped, pending the therapy's success, it would be adopted into recommended treatment guidelines. Annually, more than 3000 Australians are diagnosed with bladder cancer, most aged over 50. An aggressive cancer, it disproportionately affects men. In isolation, Gemcitabine and Docetaxel are poor treatments for bladder cancer; when administered together, 60-69 per cent of patients respond positively. A simultaneous European study has reported a 79 per cent high-grade disease-free survival rate and 73 per cent overall disease-free survival rate. Monash Health study lead Weranja Ranasinghe said the therapy would take patients out of palliative care. 'This new treatment provides an excellent alternative for these patients with good tolerance and durability. The other advantage is that these agents are widely available and affordable,' Associate Professor Ranasinghe said. 'The new treatment, Gem-Doce, is (using) established chemotherapy medicines and administering them sequentially into the bladder is shown to be effective in about 60 to 69 per cent of patients who don't respond to BCG treatment or who want to preserve their bladder.' Read related topics: HealthVaccinations
Time of India
6 days ago
- Time of India
Pharmacist rattles Australians as police seize 2 Ferraris, 2 Lamborghinis, 7 BMWs, and a McLaren — how did he get so rich?
A man in Australia is in trouble for lying about medicine sales. Police took his 12 fancy cars, including Ferraris and Lamborghinis. He may go to jail if found guilty. The case is part of a big fraud investigation. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads FAQs Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads A pharmacist in Australia had 12 luxury cars seized by police as part of a fraud investigation. The man is 58 years old and is accused of faking medicine claims for nearly 10 years. The fake claims were made under Australia's Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme from 2014 to 2023, as mentioned in the say he made $6.5 million USD by cheating the system. With that money, he lived a luxury lifestyle, owning a big mansion and super expensive cars. The cars taken by police include 2 Ferraris, both are 488 models, one is a Spider, the other is a Pista. 2 Lamborghinis, both are Aventadors, one is an LP 780-4 Ultimae, and the other an Aventador SVJ, as per the report by Road & Track.1 McLaren, a 765LT with MSO specs. 7 BMWs, includes models from the 2 Series, 7 Series, and an M3. The man has been charged with two crimes, dealing with proceeds of crime over $1 million, which can lead to 25 years in jail, as stated in the financial loss to the government, can lead to 10 years in jail. If he's found guilty, the government will sell all his cars, and the money will go to programs that help prevent crime. A fun side note in the report joked that the Lamborghini LP 780-4 would look cool as a police car, kind of like how Florida police use a Corvette C8, as mentioned in the is accused of earning illegal money by making fake medicine he is found guilty, the government will sell the cars to fund crime prevention programs.
The Advertiser
27-05-2025
- The Advertiser
Ferraris, Lamborghinis, McLaren seized in PBS fraud probe of Sydney pharmacist
A collection of exotic vehicles has been seized from a New South Wales pharmacist who allegedly made false claims under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for almost a decade. A Criminal Assets Confiscation Taskforce (CACT) led by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) has seized more than $20 million in assets from the 58-year-old pharmacist, who is alleged to have made false claims between 2014 and 2023 with a value of more than $10 million. Search warrants were executed by the AFP at the man's house in Dural, as well as a pharmacy in Cabramatta East, leading to charges being laid and the subsequent CACT investigation and asset seizure. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The CACT says it "restrained" a total of 12 vehicles: seven BMWs, two Ferraris, two Lamborghinis, and one McLaren. Photos taken by AFP officers show a garage of late-model, high-end vehicles, as well as a Lexus SC430. The BMWs include a 220i coupe, an M3 Competition sports sedan, and a 7 Series limousine, all current-generation models. The lone McLaren is a 765LT with a distinctive black and red exterior, while the two Lamborghinis are an Aventador Ultimae and an Aventador SVJ, and the two Ferraris are a 488 GTB and a 488 Pista. In addition to the vehicles, the CACT alleges the man's Dural mansion, East Cabramatta business, and various bank accounts "do not seem to be accounted for by legitimate earnings". While the CACT litigates matters in courts, so-called "restrained assets" are managed on behalf of the Commonwealth by the Australian Financial Security Authority (AFSA). Should the CACT be successful in court, the AFSA will in turn liquidate the assets and the proceeds will go to the Commonwealth Confiscated Assets Account (CAA). These funds are in turn reinvested in programs which support crime prevention, law enforcement, drug treatment, and diversionary measures related to drug use. The pharmacist is currently bailed and will next appear before court on June 6, 2025. He has been charged with: The maximum respective penalties for these offences are 25 years' imprisonment and 10 years' imprisonment. The CACT explained the restraint of assets serves as a further deterrent to criminals. "This approach ensures those who seek to exploit government benefit schemes for financial gain face not only legal consequences, but also the loss of the wealth they sought to accumulate through dishonest means," said AFP CACT Commander Jason Kennedy. "When law enforcement recovers illicit gains, it removes the incentive that fuels such crimes and sends a strong deterrent message to others. "Offenders consider the confiscation of their assets to be as much, or more, of a punishment than a prison sentence, and removing the lure of financial exploitation from the equation shows that crime does not pay." The CACT sees the AFP collaborate with the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, the Australian Taxation Office, the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre, and the Australian Border Force. Click an image to view a full gallery of images from the AFP. Content originally sourced from: A collection of exotic vehicles has been seized from a New South Wales pharmacist who allegedly made false claims under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for almost a decade. A Criminal Assets Confiscation Taskforce (CACT) led by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) has seized more than $20 million in assets from the 58-year-old pharmacist, who is alleged to have made false claims between 2014 and 2023 with a value of more than $10 million. Search warrants were executed by the AFP at the man's house in Dural, as well as a pharmacy in Cabramatta East, leading to charges being laid and the subsequent CACT investigation and asset seizure. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The CACT says it "restrained" a total of 12 vehicles: seven BMWs, two Ferraris, two Lamborghinis, and one McLaren. Photos taken by AFP officers show a garage of late-model, high-end vehicles, as well as a Lexus SC430. The BMWs include a 220i coupe, an M3 Competition sports sedan, and a 7 Series limousine, all current-generation models. The lone McLaren is a 765LT with a distinctive black and red exterior, while the two Lamborghinis are an Aventador Ultimae and an Aventador SVJ, and the two Ferraris are a 488 GTB and a 488 Pista. In addition to the vehicles, the CACT alleges the man's Dural mansion, East Cabramatta business, and various bank accounts "do not seem to be accounted for by legitimate earnings". While the CACT litigates matters in courts, so-called "restrained assets" are managed on behalf of the Commonwealth by the Australian Financial Security Authority (AFSA). Should the CACT be successful in court, the AFSA will in turn liquidate the assets and the proceeds will go to the Commonwealth Confiscated Assets Account (CAA). These funds are in turn reinvested in programs which support crime prevention, law enforcement, drug treatment, and diversionary measures related to drug use. The pharmacist is currently bailed and will next appear before court on June 6, 2025. He has been charged with: The maximum respective penalties for these offences are 25 years' imprisonment and 10 years' imprisonment. The CACT explained the restraint of assets serves as a further deterrent to criminals. "This approach ensures those who seek to exploit government benefit schemes for financial gain face not only legal consequences, but also the loss of the wealth they sought to accumulate through dishonest means," said AFP CACT Commander Jason Kennedy. "When law enforcement recovers illicit gains, it removes the incentive that fuels such crimes and sends a strong deterrent message to others. "Offenders consider the confiscation of their assets to be as much, or more, of a punishment than a prison sentence, and removing the lure of financial exploitation from the equation shows that crime does not pay." The CACT sees the AFP collaborate with the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, the Australian Taxation Office, the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre, and the Australian Border Force. Click an image to view a full gallery of images from the AFP. Content originally sourced from: A collection of exotic vehicles has been seized from a New South Wales pharmacist who allegedly made false claims under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for almost a decade. A Criminal Assets Confiscation Taskforce (CACT) led by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) has seized more than $20 million in assets from the 58-year-old pharmacist, who is alleged to have made false claims between 2014 and 2023 with a value of more than $10 million. Search warrants were executed by the AFP at the man's house in Dural, as well as a pharmacy in Cabramatta East, leading to charges being laid and the subsequent CACT investigation and asset seizure. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The CACT says it "restrained" a total of 12 vehicles: seven BMWs, two Ferraris, two Lamborghinis, and one McLaren. Photos taken by AFP officers show a garage of late-model, high-end vehicles, as well as a Lexus SC430. The BMWs include a 220i coupe, an M3 Competition sports sedan, and a 7 Series limousine, all current-generation models. The lone McLaren is a 765LT with a distinctive black and red exterior, while the two Lamborghinis are an Aventador Ultimae and an Aventador SVJ, and the two Ferraris are a 488 GTB and a 488 Pista. In addition to the vehicles, the CACT alleges the man's Dural mansion, East Cabramatta business, and various bank accounts "do not seem to be accounted for by legitimate earnings". While the CACT litigates matters in courts, so-called "restrained assets" are managed on behalf of the Commonwealth by the Australian Financial Security Authority (AFSA). Should the CACT be successful in court, the AFSA will in turn liquidate the assets and the proceeds will go to the Commonwealth Confiscated Assets Account (CAA). These funds are in turn reinvested in programs which support crime prevention, law enforcement, drug treatment, and diversionary measures related to drug use. The pharmacist is currently bailed and will next appear before court on June 6, 2025. He has been charged with: The maximum respective penalties for these offences are 25 years' imprisonment and 10 years' imprisonment. The CACT explained the restraint of assets serves as a further deterrent to criminals. "This approach ensures those who seek to exploit government benefit schemes for financial gain face not only legal consequences, but also the loss of the wealth they sought to accumulate through dishonest means," said AFP CACT Commander Jason Kennedy. "When law enforcement recovers illicit gains, it removes the incentive that fuels such crimes and sends a strong deterrent message to others. "Offenders consider the confiscation of their assets to be as much, or more, of a punishment than a prison sentence, and removing the lure of financial exploitation from the equation shows that crime does not pay." The CACT sees the AFP collaborate with the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, the Australian Taxation Office, the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre, and the Australian Border Force. Click an image to view a full gallery of images from the AFP. Content originally sourced from: A collection of exotic vehicles has been seized from a New South Wales pharmacist who allegedly made false claims under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for almost a decade. A Criminal Assets Confiscation Taskforce (CACT) led by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) has seized more than $20 million in assets from the 58-year-old pharmacist, who is alleged to have made false claims between 2014 and 2023 with a value of more than $10 million. Search warrants were executed by the AFP at the man's house in Dural, as well as a pharmacy in Cabramatta East, leading to charges being laid and the subsequent CACT investigation and asset seizure. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The CACT says it "restrained" a total of 12 vehicles: seven BMWs, two Ferraris, two Lamborghinis, and one McLaren. Photos taken by AFP officers show a garage of late-model, high-end vehicles, as well as a Lexus SC430. The BMWs include a 220i coupe, an M3 Competition sports sedan, and a 7 Series limousine, all current-generation models. The lone McLaren is a 765LT with a distinctive black and red exterior, while the two Lamborghinis are an Aventador Ultimae and an Aventador SVJ, and the two Ferraris are a 488 GTB and a 488 Pista. In addition to the vehicles, the CACT alleges the man's Dural mansion, East Cabramatta business, and various bank accounts "do not seem to be accounted for by legitimate earnings". While the CACT litigates matters in courts, so-called "restrained assets" are managed on behalf of the Commonwealth by the Australian Financial Security Authority (AFSA). Should the CACT be successful in court, the AFSA will in turn liquidate the assets and the proceeds will go to the Commonwealth Confiscated Assets Account (CAA). These funds are in turn reinvested in programs which support crime prevention, law enforcement, drug treatment, and diversionary measures related to drug use. The pharmacist is currently bailed and will next appear before court on June 6, 2025. He has been charged with: The maximum respective penalties for these offences are 25 years' imprisonment and 10 years' imprisonment. The CACT explained the restraint of assets serves as a further deterrent to criminals. "This approach ensures those who seek to exploit government benefit schemes for financial gain face not only legal consequences, but also the loss of the wealth they sought to accumulate through dishonest means," said AFP CACT Commander Jason Kennedy. "When law enforcement recovers illicit gains, it removes the incentive that fuels such crimes and sends a strong deterrent message to others. "Offenders consider the confiscation of their assets to be as much, or more, of a punishment than a prison sentence, and removing the lure of financial exploitation from the equation shows that crime does not pay." The CACT sees the AFP collaborate with the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, the Australian Taxation Office, the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre, and the Australian Border Force. Click an image to view a full gallery of images from the AFP. Content originally sourced from:
West Australian
27-05-2025
- West Australian
Ferraris, Lamborghinis, McLaren seized in PBS fraud probe of Sydney pharmacist
A collection of exotic vehicles has been seized from a New South Wales pharmacist who allegedly made false claims under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for almost a decade. A Criminal Assets Confiscation Taskforce (CACT) led by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) has seized more than $20 million in assets from the 58-year-old pharmacist, who is alleged to have made false claims between 2014 and 2023 with a value of more than $10 million. Search warrants were executed by the AFP at the man's house in Dural, as well as a pharmacy in Cabramatta East, leading to charges being laid and the subsequent CACT investigation and asset seizure. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now . The CACT says it 'restrained' a total of 12 vehicles: seven BMWs, two Ferraris, two Lamborghinis, and one McLaren. Photos taken by AFP officers show a garage of late-model, high-end vehicles, as well as a Lexus SC430. The BMWs include a 220i coupe , an M3 Competition sports sedan, and a 7 Series limousine, all current-generation models. The lone McLaren is a 765LT with a distinctive black and red exterior, while the two Lamborghinis are an Aventador Ultimae and an Aventador SVJ , and the two Ferraris are a 488 GTB and a 488 Pista . In addition to the vehicles, the CACT alleges the man's Dural mansion, East Cabramatta business, and various bank accounts 'do not seem to be accounted for by legitimate earnings'. While the CACT litigates matters in courts, so-called 'restrained assets' are managed on behalf of the Commonwealth by the Australian Financial Security Authority (AFSA). Should the CACT be successful in court, the AFSA will in turn liquidate the assets and the proceeds will go to the Commonwealth Confiscated Assets Account (CAA). These funds are in turn reinvested in programs which support crime prevention, law enforcement, drug treatment, and diversionary measures related to drug use. The pharmacist is currently bailed and will next appear before court on June 6, 2025. He has been charged with: The maximum respective penalties for these offences are 25 years' imprisonment and 10 years' imprisonment. The CACT explained the restraint of assets serves as a further deterrent to criminals. 'This approach ensures those who seek to exploit government benefit schemes for financial gain face not only legal consequences, but also the loss of the wealth they sought to accumulate through dishonest means,' said AFP CACT Commander Jason Kennedy. 'When law enforcement recovers illicit gains, it removes the incentive that fuels such crimes and sends a strong deterrent message to others. 'Offenders consider the confiscation of their assets to be as much, or more, of a punishment than a prison sentence, and removing the lure of financial exploitation from the equation shows that crime does not pay.' The CACT sees the AFP collaborate with the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, the Australian Taxation Office, the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre, and the Australian Border Force. Click an image to view a full gallery of images from the AFP.
Perth Now
27-05-2025
- Perth Now
Ferraris, Lamborghinis, McLaren seized in PBS fraud probe of Sydney pharmacist
A collection of exotic vehicles has been seized from a New South Wales pharmacist who allegedly made false claims under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for almost a decade. A Criminal Assets Confiscation Taskforce (CACT) led by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) has seized more than $20 million in assets from the 58-year-old pharmacist, who is alleged to have made false claims between 2014 and 2023 with a value of more than $10 million. Search warrants were executed by the AFP at the man's house in Dural, as well as a pharmacy in Cabramatta East, leading to charges being laid and the subsequent CACT investigation and asset seizure. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Supplied Credit: CarExpert The CACT says it 'restrained' a total of 12 vehicles: seven BMWs, two Ferraris, two Lamborghinis, and one McLaren. Photos taken by AFP officers show a garage of late-model, high-end vehicles, as well as a Lexus SC430. The BMWs include a 220i coupe, an M3 Competition sports sedan, and a 7 Series limousine, all current-generation models. The lone McLaren is a 765LT with a distinctive black and red exterior, while the two Lamborghinis are an Aventador Ultimae and an Aventador SVJ, and the two Ferraris are a 488 GTB and a 488 Pista. Supplied Credit: CarExpert In addition to the vehicles, the CACT alleges the man's Dural mansion, East Cabramatta business, and various bank accounts 'do not seem to be accounted for by legitimate earnings'. While the CACT litigates matters in courts, so-called 'restrained assets' are managed on behalf of the Commonwealth by the Australian Financial Security Authority (AFSA). Should the CACT be successful in court, the AFSA will in turn liquidate the assets and the proceeds will go to the Commonwealth Confiscated Assets Account (CAA). These funds are in turn reinvested in programs which support crime prevention, law enforcement, drug treatment, and diversionary measures related to drug use. Supplied Credit: CarExpert The pharmacist is currently bailed and will next appear before court on June 6, 2025. He has been charged with: Two counts of dealing in proceeds of crime worth $1 million or more, contrary to section 400.3(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth) Two counts of dishonesty causing a loss to the Commonwealth, contrary to section 135.1(3) of the Criminal Code (Cth) The maximum respective penalties for these offences are 25 years' imprisonment and 10 years' imprisonment. Supplied Credit: CarExpert Supplied Credit: CarExpert The CACT explained the restraint of assets serves as a further deterrent to criminals. 'This approach ensures those who seek to exploit government benefit schemes for financial gain face not only legal consequences, but also the loss of the wealth they sought to accumulate through dishonest means,' said AFP CACT Commander Jason Kennedy. 'When law enforcement recovers illicit gains, it removes the incentive that fuels such crimes and sends a strong deterrent message to others. 'Offenders consider the confiscation of their assets to be as much, or more, of a punishment than a prison sentence, and removing the lure of financial exploitation from the equation shows that crime does not pay.' The CACT sees the AFP collaborate with the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, the Australian Taxation Office, the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre, and the Australian Border Force. Click an image to view a full gallery of images from the AFP.
