Pharmac proposal to improve access to medicines for people with high blood pressure and bacterial infections

Pharmac is seeking feedback on a proposal that would make it easier for people with high blood pressure and bacterial infections to access funded medicines.

The proposal would see one new medicine funded, and funded access to three other medicines would be widened and simplified.

Some medicines that are currently funded through Pharmac's Named Patient Pharmaceutical Assessment (NPPA) process, where clinicians apply for funding for individual patients, would instead be listed on the Pharmaceutical Schedule – the list of publicly funded medicines.

This means the medicines would be funded for anyone who meets the eligibility criteria, without the need for individual funding applications.

Pharmac’s Director Pharmaceuticals, Geraldine MacGibbon, says the proposal would make funded treatment easier to access for people with these conditions.

"We're proposing changes that would both fund a new treatment and widen access to some currently funded medicines" says MacGibbon.

"Pharmac has also identified that we are repeatedly funding some of these medicines for specific conditions through our exceptions pathway. Moving them to our regular national funding mechanism would make access simpler and ensure anyone who meets the funding criteria can receive these medicines as quickly as possible."

MacGibbon says the proposal has been informed by clinical advice and feedback from healthcare professionals.

The proposal would mean that clinicians would no longer need to submit funding applications for these medicines.