Amanda
Cameron
The industry association representing pharmaceutical companies has
welcomed a large increase in the government budget available for
subsidised medicines.
The Government today announced it would spend an extra $185.7
million over four years on subsidised medicines, including $46.9
million for Herceptin and associated costs.
The Researched Medicines Industry Association (RMI) is delighted
with the new money and grateful the Government is explicitly
recognising the value of pharmaceuticals for New Zealanders, chair
Pippa MacKay says.
"It's obviously a good start," Dr MacKay says.
New Zealand lagging behind
However, Dr MacKay concedes the RMI was expecting more money for
pharmaceutical than was announced today.
New Zealand is such a long way behind Australia in terms of
subsidised medicines that much more money is needed to close the
gap, she says.
More measures needed
However, steps could be taken to free up money within the current
budget to spend on innovative medicines, Dr MacKay says.
For example, there are medicines that are cheap to buy at the
supermarket, such as aspirin and paracetamol, that could be cut
from the funded medicines list.
Pharmac could also stick to funding the prioritised list of
medicines recommended by its clinical assessment committee
(PTAC).
The RMI also believes the Government should raise the copayment on
cheap over-the-counter medicines, but realises such a move would be
unpopular with the voting public, Dr MacKay says.