|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
The Government has welcomed a new Pharmac proposal to fund five new treatments, thanks to cost savings achieved through ongoing medicine negotiations.
Associate Health Minister David Seymour and Health Minister Simeon Brown say the proposal could benefit over 1,700 New Zealanders in the first year, rising to 4,000 by year five.
The treatments target conditions such as multiple sclerosis, lung cancer, breast cancer, and eye disease.
“These medicines could be life-changing for many New Zealanders,” said Seymour in a statement.
“The faster subcutaneous injections, for example, could save 7,500 hospital hours in the first year alone, allowing health professionals to treat more patients.”
The proposed medicines include -Faricimab, for certain eye conditions, Entrectinib, for lung cancer, Subcutaneous ocrelizumab, for multiple sclerosis, Subcutaneous pertuzumab and trastuzumab, for metastatic breast cancer and ongoing access to bevacizumab, for certain eye conditions.
Pharmac’s annual tender process, which saves between $30–$50 million a year, has enabled the agency to invest in new treatments.
Consultation on the proposal is open until 5pm, October 8.
“Our record $604 million investment in Pharmac is delivering real results,” said Brown.
“This is part of our commitment to improving access to medicines for all New Zealanders.”
