The Hosie family from Narrandera are calling on the federal government to fund a medicine which they say has allowed their nine-year-old son Tanner to enjoy life again after years of battling severe eczema that took over the whole family’s life.

Dupilumab (brand name Dupixent) is a medicine for severe eczema that has been available for Australians aged 12 and older through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) at a cost of just $25 per month. The same access has been denied to families with younger children like Tanner. Without a PBS subsidy dupilumab costs $1600 a month.

Diagnosed at the age of six months, Tanner’s eczema was so severe he was often too sick to leave the house, missing out on school due to skin infections and flare-ups. Tanner took up rugby at the age of five, but his games were soon replaced by trips to the hospital.

At the age of seven, Tanner was granted compassionate access to dupilumab, and his skin finally began to heal.

Now, the Hosie family are joining the SOS (Save our Skin) for Kids with Eczema campaign by Eczema Support Australia to call for an end to the delays children with severe eczema and their families have endured.

Their calls come as the federal government considers funding dupilumab through the PBS for children as young as six months old with severe eczema.

“It is not fair that these kids suffer the physical and emotional burden of severe eczema – from bleeding skin and sleepless nights to missed schooling and low self-esteem – when there is treatment that halts the condition in its tracks,” said Melanie Funk, founder of Eczema Support Australia.

“Our SOS distress call can’t fall on deaf ears and access to this medicine must not be impeded by more red tape. We are calling on the Australian government to do right by these children and their families,” she said.

Ten year old Tanner Hosie was diagnosed with severe eczema when he was six months old. What started as something his family were told he would “grow out of” quickly took over their lives.

His family tried every possible treatment and gave his skin near-constant attention, but flare-ups became a cycle that was impossible to break. The whole family had to put their life on hold as some days Tanner was simply too sick to leave the house.