Family among thousands priced out of life-changing medication

The Sydney family almost sold their home to afford a medication available to millions for only $25.

Jade Hlucshniow was on the brink of selling her home to afford treatment for her daughter, whose debilitating skin condition had stolen much of her childhood.

Ruby, age seven, suffered from eczema so painful that it consumed her family's life.

"Watching her suffer was unbearable. She would tear her skin apart, and there was nothing we could do to stop it," her mum, Jade, told nine.com.au.

READ MORE: Suspected murderer of little girl beaten unconscious before arrest

"Nights were the worst. For the rest of my life, I will never forget her screams – crying out, begging us to help her – and the overwhelming feeling of helplessness as we stood there, unable to take her pain away."

Jade said that before Ruby had access to proper treatment, life was a living "nightmare."

Missing school, she also stopped eating properly and became too self-conscious to go out in public.

"She was so worried about people staring at her," Jade said.

When the family heard about Dupixent, a treatment Jade describes as a "miracle" injection, the hope came with a brutal price tag: about $1600 a month.

"We found ourselves going over everything – what we could cut from our expenses, how we could earn more money, what we could sell – just to try and make this treatment an option," explained.

"I can honestly say we would have gone as far as selling our house."

Ruby gained compassionate access to the drug a year and a half ago, and according to her mum, has become "a different child."

"I can't put into words the overwhelming relief we felt in that moment...for the first time in so long, we could finally breathe again."

READ MORE: How much your supermarket spend has jumped in two years

Now, families who cannot afford the same treatment want the Federal Government to take immediate action by subsidising Dupixent through the PBS for children under 12.

The drug is already available on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme for Australians aged 12 and over, but younger children are excluded without special access.

National charity Eczema Support Australia is spearheading the SOS for Kids with Eczema campaign to advocate for PBS funding of Dupixent for children aged six months to 11 years.

Managing director Melanie Funk is urging for improved access to treatments, saying the current lack of funding leaves thousands of families suffering unnecessarily.

"Families of young Australian children with severe eczema are at a breaking point, unable to afford a medicine that can change lives," she said.

If listed on the PBS, the cost would be slashed from $1600 to about $25 a month.

Eczema affects approximately three million Australians, including one-in-three children aged six years or younger.

Dr Li-Chuen Wong, from the Australasian College of Dermatologists, said severe cases could be debilitating for young children, causing relentless itching, skin infections and sleep disruption.

"In the worst cases, children are in constant discomfort and unable to function normally, and the impact on families is profound," she said.

That was the harrowing reality for the Hlucshniow family – a stark contrast to Ruby's life today, where she can finally enjoy the same experiences as other seven-year-olds.

"She joins in sports, participates in all school activities, and no longer has to sit on the sidelines. She goes to birthday parties – something she used to avoid – and has become such a social butterfly. It's been incredible to watch."

"These might seem like small things, but for Ruby, they mean everything," Jade said.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing told nine.com.au that the pharmaceutical company responsible for dupilumab in Australia has not provided the required documentation for the PBS listing to progress. 

The Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee will consider an updated proposal at its July 2026 meeting.

NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.

• Download the 9NEWS App here via Apple and Google Play
• Make 9News your preferred source on Google by ticking this box here
• Sign up to our breaking newsletter here