OIA documents prove Pharmac’s independent inquiry is a toothless whitewash

Following a damning survey of Pharmac, National can also reveal documents received under OIA show the delayed independent inquiry into the national drug purchasing agency is a toothless whitewash and another nail in the coffin for Andrew Little, says National’s Health spokesperson Dr Shane Reti

ACT welcomes molnupiravir decision

ACT has welcomed the Government’s purchase of 60,000 courses of antiviral pill molnupiravir.

"It’s great to see that the Government has finally gone hard and early in embracing new technologies", says ACT Deputy Leader and Health Spokesperson Brooke van Velden.

Government must front on PHARMAC review - ACT

"A new survey commissioned by Patient Voice Aotearoa shows the Labour Government must provide New Zealanders better access to the care and medicines they need to live a healthy life," says Brooke van Velden, ACT Deputy Leader and Health Spokesperson.

Government must buy Covid treatments now - Chris Bishop

News from Merck that their antiviral pill, Molnupiravir, reduces the chances that patients newly diagnosed with Covid-19 will be hospitalised by about 50 per cent is incredibly encouraging and should prompt the New Zealand Government to urgently contract for this drug and other next generation Co

National planning for a strong health system - Shane Reti and Simon Watts

National’s Covid-19 Plan, ‘Opening Up’ includes a strong priority on improving our hospitals, expanding our ICU capacity and funding treatments for Covid-19, National’s Health spokesperson Dr Shane Reti and Associate Health spokesperson Simon Watts say.

Pharmac funds new treatment for rheumatoid arthritis to support people impacted by shortage

Pharmac has funded upadacitinib tablets as an alternative treatment for New Zealanders with severe rheumatoid arthritis, who are impacted by the tocilizumab stock shortage.

Pharmac funds tocilizumab to treat cases of COVID-19

Pharmac is widening funded access to tocilizumab, an immunosuppressive drug used mainly to treat arthritis, to treat moderate to severe cases of COVID-19, subject to access criteria from 1 October 2021.

Limiting the impact on Kiwis as API leaves the NZ market - Pharmac

Pharmac is working hard to limit the impact on over 1 million Kiwis who currently take funded API Consumer Brands (API) medicines, following their announcement that they are leaving the New Zealand market.

Pharmac confirms 'primidone to stay the same'

Pharmac is pleased to confirm that there will be no change in primidone tablets, a treatment used for the management of seizures and epilepsy.

Epilepsy NZ pleased with Pharmac decision

Epilepsy New Zealand (ENZ) welcomes the news that users of the anti-seizure medication Primidone will not have to change their tablets.