Pharmac's move to drop Māori Directorate slammed by union as 'another breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi'

A union says a Pharmac proposal to disestablish a specialist Māori advisory team is an abandonment of its commitment to Māori health.

RNZ

"Raise $400k or die: The cost of surviving cancer"

#MarinéLourens, The Press, 2025/04/23

I'm fed up to the back teeth with news media picking on Pharmac. It's the best the public system can do, while governments allow corporations to patent bits of chemistry. Allowing them to charge economic rents on brand-name drugs. Which competitive markets could offer at a fraction of the price, while still covering their costs and making a profit;

https://www.economicliberties.us/our-work/the-costs-of-pharma-cheating/

Never even mentioned.

#Pharmac

The Costs of Pharma Cheating - American Economic Liberties Project

"The Costs of Pharma Cheating" examines one central driver of rising prescription drug prices: the illegal and anticompetitive tactics used by the pharmaceutical industry to perpetuate monopolies—in the form of government-backed patents over brand drugs—and block competition from more affordable generic drugs.

American Economic Liberties Project

Great news for ADHDers in Aotearoa;

"Pharmac is now funding a new medicine and has removed renewal criteria for ADHD treatments."

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/could-pharmacs-adhd-medication-changes-be-a-game-changer-or-a-risk-the-front-page/TDXBB3SYQVEMPMNZTBY7FPJDWA/

Until recently, people taking ADHD medication have had to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars every 2 years for a medication review. Pharmac is now trusting GPs to do this for their patients, saving hundreds of hours of psychiatrists' time every year.

(1/2)

#podcasts #NZHerald #TheFrontPage #ADHD #Pharmac @adhd

Could Pharmac’s ADHD medication changes be a game-changer or a risk? - The Front Page

A new medicine and simplified renewal criteria for those with ADHD.

NZ Herald
In the conversations I have had with cancer patients, two common themes emerge. First, a deep sense of betrayal that in their time of need, and after having paid years of taxes, the government has treated them like a dog that needs to be put down. The prevailing attitude from cancer patients towards the government is, “they don’t care. I’m going to die, so why delay the inevitable?”.

Second, they are immensely proud of advocating for change and do so in the hope that one day Pharmac will become patient-focused, and others won’t have to suffer the same cruel fate and beg for their lives, or the lives of those they love.

Malcolm Mulholland from the group 'Patent Voice Aotearoa' is presenting a submission to Parliament today to increase Phrmac's funding.
#Pharmac, #Health, #DrugFunding, #myeloma, #BloodCancer

The Post: Another step in the journey to reform Pharmac

The Post

Looks like there has been a Frank Exchange Of Views™ and #Pharmac's HRT decision is going to be ... reconsidered. Thanks to all who supported this call.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/535466/pharmac-will-review-hrt-funding-decision-seymour-says
Pharmac will review HRT funding decision, Seymour says

Associate Health Minister David Seymour has confirmed Pharmac will review its decision to fund Mylan-branded HRT and cut Estradot.

RNZ

Amazing how a drug's users can realise a problem with an alternative and organise against it before #Pharmac develops an awareness of the scale of the problem. Whoever is doing their consulting needs a large amount of delta v applied to their underside.

The HRT petition cleared 10,000 signatures today. Keep 'em coming.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/535098/seymour-issues-please-explain-over-oestrogen-patch-switch

Seymour issues 'please explain' over oestrogen patch switch

The minister responsible for Pharmac is seeking answers after it it stopped funding a brand of oestrogen patches that many women believe work best.

RNZ
@ClareBear The Pharmac decision to fund the huge costs of being a type 1 diabetic is so long overdue. This is a no fault condition and the cost of keeping up with the technological improvements are high. Should have happened long ago. Will make a serious difference to budgets in our household.
#Pharmac #diabetes

David Seymour's ‘whole of society’ plan for tipping millions of dollars more in to Pharmac - and Big Pharma

Sounds like Embrace Extend Extinguish to me

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/in-depth/524848/david-seymour-s-whole-of-society-plan-for-tipping-millions-of-dollars-more-in-to-pharmac-and-big-pharma

#RNZ #NZ #NZPol #Pharmac #BigPharma

David Seymour's ‘whole of society’ plan for tipping millions of dollars more in to Pharmac - and Big Pharma

The Act Party minister is plotting a huge expansion of the state-run drug buying agency, despite being a proponent of small government.

RNZ

Cancer drugs announcement good for many people

Funding for 56 new drugs through Pharmac

https://fediverse.blog/~/AsISaidTheOtherDay/Cancer%20drugs%20announcement%20good%20for%20many%20people/

Cancer drugs announcement good for many people

Funding for 56 new drugs through Pharmac

Good news for people with cancer and other diseases in New Zealand

Discussion on treatment of cancer funding

https://venera.social/display/85a863ed-1766-79db-4ce2-0f1458273366

Good news for people with cancer and other diseases in New Zealand

You have to give credit to the government deciding to fund our publicly-funded drug buying agency Pharmac an extra $600 million for buy drugs for cancer and ...