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
National's cancer treatment pledge doesn't go far enough, says Breast Cancer Foundation
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National's cancer treatment pledge doesn't go far enough, says Breast Cancer Foundation
Tuesday 22 August 2023, 11:22 AM

Adele Gautier, Breast Cancer Foundation NZ’s Research Manager, said: “The National Party’s intent to tackle the dire situation around unfunded cancer medicines is welcome, but this policy doesn’t go far enough for thousands of Kiwi women. There are 14 breast cancer treatments with the same “substantial clinical benefit” ranking that are considered best practice overseas and aren’t on this list.
“Until Pharmac’s woeful underfunding and flawed decision-making model is addressed, we will remain in this untenable position of individual cancers being pitted against each other, fighting for individual drugs.”