Pharmac

News that the Government had done little legwork on its promise of cancer drug funding comes as no surprise to Auckland medical oncologist George Laking

Associate health minister David Seymour, the minister responsible for Pharmac, has told the drug-buying agency he no longer expects it to consider how it can contribute to embedding Te Tiriti o Waitangi across the health sector

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon contemplated “working outside the Pharmac system” to implement the National Party’s election promise to fund 13 cancer treatments that were available in Australia, but not New Zealand

Former deputy prime minister Paula Bennett has been appointed Pharmac’s new board chair, as the Government pledged to boost the agency’s funding by around $400 million a year over the next four years

Tens of thousands of New Zealanders hit by shortages of oestrogen patches in recent years are set to get some relief with Pharmac's decision to consider funding alternatives

DURING THE ELECTION, the National Party pledged to fund 13 cancer treatments if elected. But New Zealand Doctor Rata Aotearoa understands at least six have already been, or recommended to be, declined or haven’t even been registered with Pharmac for approval. 

Associate health minister David Seymour says the Coalition Government is committed to ensuring Pharmac’s budget “remains and is sustained”

ONE STRENGTH of oestradiol patches has run out and stocks of most other strengths are running low, as use of the patches doubles in New Zealand.

University of Auckland health economics chair Paula Lorgelly says Pharmac’s recent email scandal has come at a monumentally bad time and “completely detracts” from the agency’s work

Special Authority prescriptions are creating a bureaucratic nightmare for pharmacists and causing delays in patients getting their medicine. Jonathan Chilton-Towle investigates