For true believer Bernie Banton, it was the sweetest victory of all.

The cancer drug at the centre of a campaign stoush between the asbestos crusader and Health Minister Tony Abbott could be approved for government subsidy as early as January.

And it was the Liberal minister who phoned the Labor working-class hero on Thursday to tell him the good news personally.

Mr Banton, who is battling the terminal asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma, is a long-standing campaigner for the palliative drug Alimta to be listed on the government's Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

He was said to be "very happy" at news that the government's advisory body has made that recommendation.

Mr Abbott said a re-elected coalition government hoped to have Alimta on the PBS in January.

Labor has also supported the drug's listing.

Alimta became a campaign issue last week when Mr Abbott apologised after Mr Banton tried to present a 17,000-signature Alimta petition at the minister's Sydney electoral office.

Mr Banton was furious that Mr Abbott was not there to receive it.

Mr Abbott, who was in Melbourne, accused Mr Banton of a stunt, saying just because he was sick did not mean he was "necessarily pure of heart".

He later apologised, describing Mr Banton as a "thoroughly decent bloke" who was committed to helping sufferers of asbestos-related diseases.

Mr Abbott said he had relayed the good news to Mr Banton on Thursday.

"He told me he was very happy," he said while campaigning in Sydney.

"He said I was welcome to tell any media that this long struggle to get Alimta onto the PBS for at least some mesothelioma sufferers has now been vindicated".

Posted by: Ashley

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