NZ Medicines Strategy consultation
A series of three workshops was recently completed by the RMI (Researched Medicines Industry Association). This was to discuss the draft NZ Medicines Strategy currently under consultation.
The meetings, held in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, were well attended and attracted lively discussion.
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The claim, made by the Ministry of Health, that New Zealanders have good access to medicines was debunked at all workshops. “To claim that cheap GP visits and low co-payments somehow equates to good access is simply nonsense,” the chair of the RMI, Dr Pippa MacKay, said.
She told each meeting that the paper focuses mainly on optimum use of medicines once they are dispensed and that it largely ignored the flawed process of obtaining them for New Zealanders in the first place.
“We need a system that:
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Separates cost effectiveness decisions from funding decisions |
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Separates medical and scientific decisions from funding and procurement decisions |
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Creates reliable metrics and reporting requirements |
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Improves decision-making processes |
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Hey PHARMAC, you’re asking the wrong question!
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PHARMAC is currently seeking submissions on a review of how high cost medicines are assessed and funded. Specifically it is seeking to know whether they should be assessed differently to other medicines, when considering them for funding.
“Why should they be assessed in any different way from other medicines?” asks Dr Pippa MacKay, chair of the Researched Medicines Industry Association.
The question really should be 'how do we fund those new and exciting medicines, like the new biologicals, that are becoming available?'
“Surely this is the crux of the crisis in access to medicines for New Zealanders, there isn’t enough money in the budget to fund inexpensive, old, generic, one-size-fits-all, less efficacious drugs, let alone these new, effective and innovative ones.
“Other first world countries can find the funds. It is a matter of priorities. Australia can do it. In 2006 Australia spent $NZ324.91 per head of population on its equivalent to our community schedule, while PHARMAC spent $NZ135.61.
“We all know that health funding has to be rationed and rational. There is no question about that."
Growth in the PHARMAC community schedule budget grew by only 9.5% over ten years, from $514m in 1996/97 to $563m in 2005/06.
“This is less than the rate of inflation. And, even this miniscule increase would have been gobbled up just by the steady increase in prescription numbers.
“It is a matter of allocating according to priorities in the overall health budget, and the very fact that there is an action group called Access to Medicines Coalition, shows medicines need to be accorded a higher priority,” she said.
“Government will get a big payback as people get back to meaningful work, as productivity rises and hospital beds become available for those for whom medicines aren’t necessarily the answer.
“As a country we should ensure that quality medicines are provided to New Zealanders in a responsive and responsible manner. And, our health planners should be looking to good health outcomes, not only a balanced budget,” she said.
(2006 PBS spend of A$6.067 billion across population of 20,747,287. Exchange rate $0.90 - 2005/06 PHARMAC spend $563 million across population of 4,151,600.)
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Costly and lengthy process |
Researching and developing new medicines remains a risky investment and a lengthy process.
It costs, on average, over $US800 million and takes between 10 to 15 years to bring a new medicine to patients. |
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| How important is Peter Dunne’s NZ Medicine Strategy? |
Industry watchers are questioning Government, DHB and PHARMAC commitment to the development of a NZ Medicines Strategy.
In the week the consultation document was released, PHARMAC announced a parallel consultation on how high cost medicines are assessed and funded. Then, during the Christmas break, it announced that it was extending its central purchasing activities to include medical devices and prosthetics.
“These moves provide mixed signals. Does it mean that Dunne’s attempts to reform access to medicines are merely lip service to a coalition party agreement?
“Or, is PHARMAC, and its masters (the DHBs and Government), deliberately undermining the consultation process?” Dr MacKay asked.
“Surely the problems surrounding access to the new, modern and exciting medicines, such as biologicals, are a core matter for the NZ Medicines Strategy?
“They must be an integral part of it. So why is a parallel consultation being conducted?
“These concerns must be addressed, and soon, or the integrity of the NZ Medicines Strategy could be hopelessly comprised. This would be disappointing for patients, clinicians and the industry alike,” Dr MacKay warned. |
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197 medicines in pipeline to treat mental health issues
In recent years pharmaceutical research has helped transform mental illnesses from misunderstood causes of shame and fear into highly treatable conditions.
Medicines for treating depression are helping thousands of people suffering from such disorders to live productive lives.
Breakthrough schizophrenia medicines mean most patients are treated in the community. And medicines for Alzheimer’s disease are helping elderly people in many other countries to maintain their independence outside of institutional care longer.
New medicines in the R&D pipeline offer considerable potential in reducing the human and economic costs of mental illness.
They include medicines for: |
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Depression |
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Addictive disorders – including dependence on alcohol, tobacco or illegal drugs |
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Anxiety disorders |
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Dementias - including Alzheimer’s disease |
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Schizophrenia |
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