Ministry of Health & PHARMACThursday 01 July 2010, 9:58AM
Media release from the Ministry of Health &
PHARMAC
"A new iodine-only tablet (NeuroKare), which will enable pregnant
and breastfeeding women to meet their iodine requirements is now
available in New Zealand " says PHARMAC's medical director Dr Peter
Moodie.
Rather than pay over-the-counter for vitamin/mineral supplements,
women requiring iodine tablets will have to pay just $3 for a three
month supply of NeuroKare. It's estimated that every year
65,000 women could benefit from this newly-funded tablet.
Dr Moodie notes that NeuroKare (manufactured by Nelson company
Alaron) is an iodine-only tablet containing 150 mcg of iodine and
meets appropriate quality and safety standards and is subsidised
for pregnant and breastfeeding women. Iodine is essential for
normal brain development and function, especially during gestation
and infancy.The recommended dose is 150mcg a day. Not enough iodine
can result in impaired brain function and impaired growth and
development in the unborn baby and young infant.
Dr Pat Tuohy, Chief Advisor, Child and Youth Health, at the
Ministry of Health says "Pregnant and breastfeeding women have
increased iodine requirements and in spite of a good diet and
mandatory fortification of bread with iodised salt (introduced late
2009) they remain at risk of inadequate iodine intakes. It is
for these reasons that NeuroKare is being made available for these
two groups of women either on prescription or over-the-counter at
pharmacies," Dr Tuohy said.