OECD recommends a greater investment in medicines
17 April 2009

The OECD recommendation for increased funding for medicines must be taken seriously on the run up to the budget, Ken Shirley, the CEO of the Researched Medicines Industry Association, said today.

"Since 2002 there have been 80 recommendations to fund medicines that have not been implemented. These recommendations have come from PHARMAC's own clinical advisory committee, PTAC.

"With an average of only 5 or 6 new medicines approved for funding each year we are unable to fund existing approvals let alone new innovative medicines that are becoming available.

"Mr Shirley said an increase in funding will of course be welcomed. What patients, clinicians and the industry will be looking for will be a real sustained increase in funding that will ensure that New Zealand patients have better access to modern medicines.

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