For older people and frail people, the long-term benefit of medicines reduces and the potential for harm from adverse effects increases. When the benefit–risk balance changes in this way, medicine review and optimisation are important to simplify the therapeutic regimen, reduce inappropriate medicines and minimise risks. In this article, pharmacist prescriber Linda Bryant uses two case studies to illustrate important considerations during medicine reviews
Former health ministers talk Budgets and how to spend them
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Budget 2025
Former health ministers talk Budgets and how to spend them
Wednesday 7 May 2025, 03:00 PM

Former health ministers Pete Hodgson and Wyatt Creech discuss the challenge of Vote Health ahead of Budget 2025 [Images: Stuff, Supplied]
The health portfolio is often characterised as a poison chalice, not the least because health ministers face the wrath of Cabinet colleagues as, alongside social development, Vote Health takes the lion’s share of the annual Budget. Ahead of Budget 2025 this month Stephen Forbes tracked down two former health ministers – Wyatt Creech and Pete Hodgson – for a chat about the challenge that is Vote Health
Essentials
Former health ministers Pete Hodgson (Labour) and Wyatt Creech (National) agree the ongoing demand for increased funding for Vote Hea, READ MORE
Kia ora and welcome to New Zealand Doctor Rata Aotearoa
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