Back

SOS distress call for children "left behind"

Eczema Support Australia

VIDEO CONTENT AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD: 

SOS distress call from the families of Australian children with severe eczema.

 

The families of children with severe, debilitating eczema are issuing an SOS (‘Save Our Skin’) distress call for the Federal Government to end a long-standing injustice that forces children to wait until their twelfth birthday before receiving effective treatment.¹

 

The SOS for Kids with Eczema campaign by Eczema Support Australia comes alongside confirmation that Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) funding for a medicine known as dupilumab (brand name Dupixent) will soon be considered for children aged 11 years or younger with severe eczema.²

 

Melanie Funk, Founder of Eczema Support Australia, explained that thousands of children with severe eczema have been “left behind while those aged 12 years and older have accessed the breakthrough therapy through the PBS for the past five years,” slashing the cost from $1,600 to just $25 per month.¹

 

“It is not right that Australian children are missing out on a treatment that has been life-changing for adolescents and adults,” she said.

 

“This makes no sense when we know that effective treatment in younger years can change the trajectory of a child’s life. It not only improves control of eczema over the long term, but also reduces their risk of related conditions, including asthma, allergies and hay fever.”

 

“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.”

 

Severe eczema, known medically as atopic dermatitis, is a debilitating inflammatory skin condition that can cause severe itching, pain, physical and emotional distress, as well as sleep disruption. It affects approximately three million Australians, including one-in-three children aged six years or younger.³

 

“Make no mistake – for some children, eczema is not mild and it is not outgrown,” said Ms Funk, who raised twin boys with a severe form of eczema. “Severe eczema robs kids of a normal childhood, affecting their health, emotional wellbeing, learning and socialisation through critical years of development and with life-long consequences.”

 

Unlike traditional eczema treatments that work to soothe the surface of the skin, dupilumab targets the specific internal signals that trigger the inflammation responsible for severe eczema, providing long-term control. The injection is administered every two to four weeks and can be used by children as young as six months of age.⁴

 

“We have hundreds of families contacting us in distress, unable to access the medicine their children need because it costs almost $20,000 a year. With dupilumab now being considered for PBS funding, there is a glimmer of hope,” Ms Funk said.

 

“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.

 

Dermatologists are also calling for affordable access to the medicine for young children, which they say will not only ease the burden on families but also on hospitals.

 

“We know that dupilumab works, not only to relieve the suffering of children but to save valuable hospital resources,” said Dr Li-Chuen Wong, a specialist from the Australasian College of Dermatologists with extensive experience treating children with severe eczema.

 

“Several hospitals across Australia are providing children with compassionate access to the medicine, and the results have been incredible,” she said.

 

“Data from the Queensland Children’s Hospital shows not only a significant improvement in symptoms in almost all the children receiving dupilumab, but also a 92 per cent drop in hospital admissions.⁵

 

“This medicine is reducing unnecessary suffering and giving kids back their childhood, while saving our health system thousands of dollars. It’s a no-brainer that it should be funded through the PBS without further delay.”

 

According to a study from Flinders Medical Centre in Adelaide, it costs an average of $8,211 each time a child with severe eczema is admitted to hospital.⁶

 

“Every day without effective treatment is a missed opportunity. We can’t afford further delays or excuses that leave young Australians without the medicine they need and deserve,” said Ms Funk.

 

“The cost of doing nothing is too high for our children, their families, our healthcare system and the economy more broadly. The time to act is now,” she said.

 

Eczema Support Australia is encouraging families and medical professionals who have experience with severe eczema to share their experiences with the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee before 20 May 2026. The Committee will meet in July before delivering a funding recommendation to the Federal Minister for Health, Disability and Ageing in August.

 

More information on the SOS for Kids with Eczema campaign is available here: SOS for Kids with Eczema.

 

References

1. Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits. Accessed February 2026.
2. Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. PBAC Agenda July 2026.
3. Eczema Support Australia. The Burden of Eczema – Evidence for a National Strategy. 2023
4. Australian Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, Therapeutic Goods Administration. Dupixent Consumer Medicine Information. February 2025.
5. Wheller, L. et al. A Real-World Retrospective Cohort Study on the Use of Dupilumab for Severe Atopic Dermatitis in Patients Aged 6 Months to 16 Years. Australasian Journal of Dermatology, 2025;0:1-7.
6. Lee, Z. et al. Costs Associated With Inpatient Management of Atopic Dermatitis in Paediatric Patients: An Australian Perspective. Australasian Journal of Dermatology, 2026;0:1-2.

About us:

 

Eczema Support Australia

Eczema Support Australia was inspired by a family with twin boys who have severe allergies and eczema. Thanks to the initiative and drive of a friend, this family finally received wonderful community support, which has made all the difference and inspired the creation of Eczema Support Australia.

 

Since then, the organisation has gone from strength-to-strength, and has been built on the core belief that all families and individuals dealing with these chronic conditions deserve our community support.

 

Their vision is for Australians living with eczema to overcome difficulties and thrive in their community through connection, advocacy and information.

Contact details:

·        Houry Mayissian, 0415 685 600, [email protected]

·        John Morton, 0416 184 044, [email protected]

·        Melanie Funk, 0400 108 153, [email protected]