Limited access to medicine shows Medicines Strategy is needed
16 Feb 2007

"Today's announcement that PHARMAC is to help fund a 'trial' to assess the short term use of Herceptin for breast cancer is the clearest example yet that New Zealanders are continually denied access to the modern medicines that people in other developed countries are prescribed as of right," Dr Pippa MacKay, the Chair of the Researched Medicines Industry Association said.

"It is an outrage that a procurement agency should involve itself in this sort of activity as a way of reducing rising public concern about the ad hoc and random way of approving medicines in New Zealand.

"This is a back door way of appeasing the persistent and increasing public discomfort about the Government's failure to fund this and other medicines New Zealanders believe they are entitled to.

"This is simply part of a PR campaign to wrap some unproven science around a festering issue in order to relieve public pressure while not spending the necessary dollars," she said.

"And, patients throughout New Zealand will be amazed that the PHARMAC bureaucracy has managed to 'find' savings of $3.2 million from its administration budget to contribute to the funding of this so-called trial. This is clear evidence of lavish administration budgets cushioning public servants while patients go without the medicines they need," Dr MacKay said.

"This all goes to show that New Zealand needs a rational medicines strategy that:
" Provides both the public and the Government with assurances that access to medicines decisions are made with the greatest integrity
" Gives the public clear and honest information about rationing choices
" Manages expectations and helps policy-makers to make rational decisions about the introduction of new therapies
" And which encourages the efficient use of medicines.

"If Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne can deliver this in his National Medicines Strategy currently being discussed around New Zealand he will do a great service to the entire population of the country and particularly to those people desperate for medicines that they know their cousins in Australia can get without question," Dr MacKay concluded.

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