Allergy New Zealand is absolutely delighted with
today’s news that Pharmac has agreed to fund EpiPens® for
people at risk of anaphylaxis.
“It is the best news
for New Zealand’s allergy sufferers in the more than 40
years that Allergy NZ has been representing them,” Chief
Executive Mark Dixon says.
The exciting announcement
will make a huge difference to the lives of people living
with serious allergies, who have had to pay between $120 and
$350 for EpiPens®, which last only 12-18 months. “The
cost has meant this lifesaving medication has been out of
reach for many people with severe allergies,” Dixon
said.
“Today’s announcement has been a long time
coming and we are thrilled that our collective voice has
been heard, and action has been taken to support New
Zealanders living with the risk of anaphylaxis.”
In
the last two years, Allergy New Zealand has run two
campaigns, FundaPen and FundaPen2 to provide free EpiPens®
to the allergy community and raise awareness of the need for
them to be funded long term. These campaigns were supported
by Pub Charity to the tune of $650,000. The FundaPen
campaigns followed eight submissions for Pharmac funding of
adrenaline auto-injectors over the last 20
years.
During the recent Pharmac public consultation
period, Allergy New Zealand heard first-hand from allergy
sufferers and their whānau up and down the country, who
were 100 per cent in support of the funding.
“Our
supporters and members sharing this success include Pub
Charity and the funding they provided for our FundaPen
campaigns; primary care teams; our clinical networks; our
professional partners; and our wonderful staff, volunteers,
medical panel and Board,” Dixon
said.
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