Articles tagged with Pharmac
Showing 15 of 64 articles
New Zealand Approves Psychiatrists to Prescribe MDMA for PTSD Treatment
03 Sep 2026 | 5 days ago | 156 viewsAssociate Health Minister David Seymour welcomes Medsafe’s approval for two psychiatrists to prescribe pharmaceutical grade MDMA for treating PTSD through psychedelic-assisted therapy, aligning New Zealand with Australia’s clinical practices. MDMA remains unapproved as a medicine, but strict safeguards and comprehensive clinical assessments ensure its safe and appropriate use within a controlled therapeutic setting, with no take-home dispensing allowed. This approval is specific to the two psychiatrists, requiring other clinicians to obtain separate Medsafe authorization, reflecting a commitment to expanding access to innovative treatments responsibly.
Tags: David Seymour Medsafe MDMA PTSD psychiatrists New Zealand Australia pharmaceutical grade clinical assessmentPharmac Now Funds Flu Vaccines for Children 6 Months to 5 Years in NZ
31 Aug 2026 | 1 week ago | 119 viewsAssociate Health Minister David Seymour and Health Minister Simeon Brown welcome Pharmac’s decision to immediately fund flu vaccines for children aged 6 months to under five years, advancing the original 2027 timeline in response to public demand. This move aims to alleviate pressure on New Zealand’s health system amid the worst flu season in a decade, which has caused a sharp surge in hospitalizations and strained emergency departments. Vaccinating young children not only reduces their risk of severe illness and hospitalization but also helps curb transmission within households and the wider community.
Tags: David Seymour Simeon Brown Pharmac flu vaccine children New Zealand influenza season health system vaccination pediatric wardsNZ Funds Flu Vaccines for Children 6 Months to 5 Years Starting 2027
26 Aug 2026 | 2 weeks ago | 240 viewsAssociate Health Minister David Seymour welcomes Pharmac’s decision to fund flu vaccines for children aged six months to five years starting in April 2027, expanding coverage to over 260,000 children and improving protection with newer vaccine brands. This initiative aims to reduce the impact of flu on families, ease pressure on the health system during winter, and is part of a broader vaccine investment benefiting 1.6 million New Zealanders. The decision reflects strong public support for wider access to innovative vaccines and aligns with Pharmac’s goal of funding medicines based on community needs to improve health outcomes.
Tags: David Seymour Pharmac New Zealand influenza vaccine flu season children vaccination vaccine funding pneumococcal vaccine meningococcal ACWY public healthPharmac's Progress Report: Improved Patient Voice and Faster Medicine Access 2026
18 Aug 2026 | 3 weeks ago | 307 viewsAssociate Health Minister David Seymour praises Pharmac’s progress in responding to the 2025/26 Letter of Expectations, highlighting improvements in patient involvement, timeliness of decision-making, and sector collaboration. Key achievements include trialling streamlined assessment pathways, enhancing consumer engagement, updating rare disorder policies, and advancing digital investments, all contributing to a clear multi-year organisational improvement programme. While progress is noted as impressive and transparency has increased, Seymour emphasizes that continued efforts to listen to patients and improve access to medicines remain essential.
Tags: David Seymour Pharmac Associate Health Minister Patient Community Consumer Engagement Rare Disorders Strategy Exceptional Circumstances Framework NPPA Health Sector Medical TechnologyPharmac Expands Access to Type 2 Diabetes Medicines for Over 30,000 Patients
04 Aug 2026 | 1 month ago | 304 viewsAssociate Health Minister David Seymour welcomes Pharmac’s decision to expand access to type 2 diabetes medicines based on clinical need, benefiting over 30,000 patients regardless of ethnicity. From 1 September, medicines like empagliflozin and liraglutide will be funded for anyone with high blood sugar despite other treatments, removing previous restrictions related to cardiovascular or renal conditions. This change, supported by community feedback and a new supplier agreement, aims to improve health outcomes, reduce complications, and optimize health budget efficiency.
Tags: David Seymour Pharmac type 2 diabetes empagliflozin metformin liraglutide dulaglutide New Zealand health access diabetes medicinesPharmac Enhances Patient Voice with New Community and Patient Advisory Committee
03 Aug 2026 | 1 month ago | 320 viewsPharmac is enhancing its engagement with the patient community by establishing a new Community and Patient Advisory Committee (CPAC) to replace existing advisory groups, ensuring patients have a stronger voice in decision-making. This initiative builds on a cultural shift led by new leadership, supported by increased funding and expanded access to medicines benefiting hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders. Recruitment for CPAC members begins in October, with an interim committee guiding its development and implementation ahead of its official launch in the new year.
Tags: David Seymour Malcolm Mulholland Georgina Johnson LJ Apaipo Tim Edmonds Chris Higgins Tracy Tierney Pharmac Associate Health MinisterPharmac to Widen Rosuvastatin Access for All Based on Clinical Need from 2026
29 Jun 2026 | 2 months ago | 502 viewsAssociate Health Minister David Seymour supports Pharmac’s proposal to remove all eligibility criteria for Rosuvastatin access from October 2026, allowing clinicians to prescribe it based on clinical need regardless of ethnicity. This change aims to improve management of high cholesterol, reduce heart attack and stroke risks, and is expected to increase the number of users by up to 108,000 over five years without affecting current patients. Pharmac will fund this expansion through savings from its 2025/26 Annual Tender, reflecting strong support from health professionals and consumers for timely access to the medicine.
Tags: David Seymour Pharmac Rosuvastatin New Zealand Associate Health Minister cholesterol cardiovascular disease Māori Pacific statin medicationsPharmac’s 2026/27 Plan: Improving Medicine Access and Efficiency for Kiwis
25 Jun 2026 | 2 months ago | 684 viewsAssociate Health Minister David Seymour has outlined clear expectations for Pharmac to deliver medicines and medical technology efficiently within its fixed budget, emphasizing the need for continued patient-focused processes, improved transparency, and enhanced collaboration with stakeholders. Pharmac has made significant progress by changing its culture, strengthening consumer and supplier partnerships, and improving access to medicines, supported by the Government’s largest-ever budget allocation of $7.2 billion over four years. Despite achievements, including funding decisions benefiting over 680,000 patients, Seymour stresses that ongoing efforts are needed to listen to patients and advance Pharmac’s long-term improvement programme.
Tags: David Seymour Pharmac New Zealand Government Health Minister Consumer Engagement Pharmaceutical Schedule Medical Devices Supplier Reference Group Budget 2026 Cancer Medicines Patient Working GroupPharmac to Fund Ambulance Medicines from July for Better Patient Care in NZ
08 Jun 2026 | 3 months ago | 643 viewsAssociate Health Minister David Seymour supports Pharmac’s new responsibility to fund ambulance medicines from July 1, aiming to provide consistent access to emergency medicines nationwide while achieving cost savings. Following public consultation, Pharmac added seven commonly used ambulance medicines to the funded list to better reflect practical needs and improve patient outcomes. This change integrates ambulance medicines management with hospital medicines, enhancing system efficiency, value for taxpayers, and seamless care transitions between ambulance and hospital services.
Tags: David Seymour Pharmac Health New Zealand ACC ambulance services emergency medicines patient outcomes public consultation health budget New ZealandNew Zealand Budget 2026: $5.8B Boost to Healthcare for Better Patient Care
28 May 2026 | 3 months ago | 892 viewsThe New Zealand Government is investing a record $5.8 billion in Budget 2026 to improve healthcare access, reduce wait times, and strengthen frontline services, raising total health spending to $34.2 billion in 2026/27. This funding supports increased care delivery across various sectors, including elective surgeries, cancer treatments, mental health services, and aged care, alongside initiatives like paediatric palliative care and enhanced digital health security. Additionally, structural changes such as removing the capital charge for Health New Zealand aim to improve efficiency without affecting patient care or overall service delivery.
Tags: Simeon Brown New Zealand Budget 2026 Health New Zealand healthcare system mental health paediatric palliative care National Bowel Screening Programme Pharmac frontline health services2026 NZ Minister for Manufacturing Awards Celebrate Innovation and Excellence
27 May 2026 | 3 months ago | 712 viewsThe second annual Minister for Manufacturing Awards in New Zealand celebrated businesses and individuals driving innovation, growth, and resilience in the manufacturing sector, which contributes $22 billion annually and 60% of goods exports to the economy. Winners included Architectural Glass Products for process innovation and manufacturing excellence, Devin Gibson as Apprentice of the Year, Oliver Hunt for healthcare remanufacturing leadership, and Jeff Douglas for his transformative legacy in pharmaceutical manufacturing. The awards highlight the sector's commitment to innovation, skills development, sustainable practices, and global competitiveness amid ongoing challenges.
Tags: Cameron Brewer Devin Gibson Oliver Hunt Deanne Holdsworth Jeff Douglas Architectural Glass Products Medsalv PACT Group Arotec Diagnostics Douglas PharmaceuticalsPharmac Proposes Expanded Flu Vaccine Funding for NZ Children and Seniors in 2027
21 May 2026 | 3 months ago | 684 viewsAssociate Health Minister David Seymour supports Pharmac’s proposal to expand New Zealand’s vaccine program by funding flu vaccines for children aged 6 months to 5 years and securing supply for 17 vaccines and one diagnostic test. The proposal includes changing vaccine brands to enhance protection, particularly for older adults and at-risk groups, and aims to make over 1.5 million people eligible for funded vaccines in the first year. Pharmac is seeking public and professional feedback before finalizing the proposal, with changes expected to take effect from April and July 2027.
Tags: David Seymour Pharmac New Zealand flu vaccine children meningococcal ACWY pneumococcal vaccine Immunisation Advisory Committee vaccine funding National Immunisation SchedulePharmac Proposes Wider Access to Type 2 Diabetes Medicines Based on Need
14 May 2026 | 3 months ago | 770 viewsAssociate Health Minister David Seymour and Health Minister Simeon Brown support Pharmac’s proposal to expand funding for three type 2 diabetes medicines by removing ethnicity-based criteria and lowering cardiovascular risk thresholds, aiming to improve access based on clinical need. If approved, the changes could benefit up to 23,000 more people over five years, enhancing early treatment to reduce complications and hospital admissions. This initiative aligns with the Government’s broader commitment to equitable, needs-based healthcare and increased health system funding to improve outcomes for all New Zealanders.
Tags: David Seymour Simeon Brown Pharmac type 2 diabetes empagliflozin liraglutide dulaglutide New Zealand health system GovernmentNew ED Pharmacist Role at Dunedin Hospital Speeds Patient Care and Supports Doctors
13 May 2026 | 3 months ago | 621 viewsA new pharmacist role in Dunedin Hospital’s Emergency Department has improved patient flow and safety by taking medication histories, reviewing medicines, and identifying issues early, saving doctors up to 20 minutes per patient. This role enables faster, more accurate clinical decisions and allows doctors to focus more on patient care rather than paperwork, enhancing efficiency across the hospital. Positive feedback from ED doctors highlights the role as a game changer, particularly for patients with complex medication needs, demonstrating the benefits of targeted workforce initiatives.
Tags: pharmacist Dunedin Hospital Emergency Department Health Minister Simeon Brown patient flow medication histories clinical efficiency patient safety healthcare system frontline staffNew Cancer Infusion Service Launches at Te Kūiti Hospital for Local Care
12 May 2026 | 3 months ago | 940 viewsTe Kūiti Hospital has launched a new infusion service providing local cancer treatments, reducing the need for patients to travel to Waikato Hospital. Initially operating one day a week with certified staff and on-site support, the service aims to expand as part of a nationwide effort to increase cancer treatment access in rural communities. Supported by significant government investment, this initiative focuses on patient-centered care, improving timely treatment access, and enhancing the overall experience for patients and their families.
Tags: Simeon Brown Te Kūiti Hospital King Country Waikato Hospital chemotherapy cancer treatment New Zealand Pharmac Budget 2024 infusion service