Te Pātaka Whaioranga – Pharmac is considering funding
five different medicines which would give thousands of New
Zealanders more treatment options for a range of health of
conditions.
In the consultation
issued today, Pharmac is seeking feedback on proposals
to:
- fund tolvaptan for people with a type of
kidney disease called autosomal dominant polycystic kidney
disease (ADPKD) - widen funded access to cinacalcet
for people with hyperparathyroidism - remove all
funding restrictions from zoledronic acid which would enable
its unrestricted use in a range of conditions,
and - fund selenium and copper supplementation for
people in hospital with major burns
“Following
the budget increase announced in May 2022, we are working
our way through our options for investment list,” says
Pharmac’s director of operations Lisa Williams. “We are
really pleased to be in a position to progress the funding
of so many treatments for these important therapeutic
areas.”
“Current treatment for ADPKD is limited to
management of chronic kidney disease. Our clinical experts
tell us that tolvaptan would, in addition to reducing kidney
pain, treat the underlying disease by delaying disease
progression, the need for dialysis and transplantation, and
reducing the risk of mortality. If funding is approved,
tolvaptan would be listed from 1 December and an estimated
400 people a year would be eligible.”
“We are
proposing to widen access to cinacalcet, from 1 December,
for people with hyperparathyroidism. Our clinical experts
have advised us that treatment with cinacalcet would reduce
the risk of cardiovascular events. If approved,
approximately 725 people would be eligible for treatment in
the first year of funding and is expected to increase in the
years following.”
“Pharmac currently funds
zoledronic acid for a range of conditions including for
osteoporosis and breast cancer, but with eligibility
restrictions. We are proposing to remove these restrictions,
from 1 March 2023. This change is expected to benefit around
6,000 additional people over the next 5 years.”
“We
are proposing to fund two different medicines, selenium oral
drops and copper chloride injection, for people in hospital
with major burns, from 1 December. Supplementation with
selenium and copper would likely result in a decrease in
infectious episodes, with a reduced risk of
infection-related mortality. An estimated 195 people per
year would receive these treatments if funded.”
This
consultation has been sent to health professionals, patient
groups and others who Pharmac thinks would be interested. It
is available on the Pharmac website for anyone wanting to
have their say.”
“Consultation is a very important
step in our process,” says Ms Williams. “It’s how we
check that the people who will get the most benefit from the
medicines will be able to access them. If approved, we will
also be working closely with our colleagues across the
health sector to plan for the implementation of these
treatments.”
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