E-Petition

The Petition of residents of the State of Queensland draws to the attention of the House the urgent need for better access to innovative and compassionate treatments for Queenslanders with advanced dementia, particularly those in aged care facilities. Many families are witnessing the rapid decline of loved ones with dementia, where current approved treatments offer limited benefit in later stages. Experimental approaches such as off-label use of certain anti-inflammatory therapies (e.g. Periapical Etanercept), have shown promise in some international reports and small studies, yet remain unavailable or unsupported in Queensland, due to regulatory and evidence barriers. This leaves vulnerable elderly residents without options for potentially life improving interventions, causing significant distress to patients and families.

Your petitioners, therefore, request the House to do all within its power to provide hope and better care for Queensland’s growing dementia population by:

1. directing Queensland Health to review and expand pathways for compassionate access to promising off-label or experimental treatments for dementia under TGA special access scheme or similar mechanisms, including ethical oversight for age care settings; and
2. commission an enquiry or expert panel to assess evidence on innovative dementia therapies and recommend policy updates to improve options for advanced cases.