Cholesterol drug deal to help 120,000

By VERNON SMALL

About 120,000 more patients will be eligible for subsidies on potentially lifesaving anti-cholesterol drugs from next month.

In a move described by health workers as a breakthrough, the Government's drug agency Pharmac said yesterday that from April 1 restrictions on statin drugs would be loosened, increasing the number eligible from 180,000 to 300,000 patients.

Statins, which can lower cholesterol in the bloodstream by between 30 per cent and 50 per cent, are already available fully funded.

But they are targeted through a "special authority" to those at high risk of heart disease.

That means they are available only to those who have had a heart attack and been on a diet for between three months and six months, and to those with a cholesterol reading of more than nine millimoles per litre of blood.

This process will be replaced by agreed guidelines, allowing doctors to prescribe them without reference to the authority.

Pharmac chief executive Wayne McNee said the cost of the deal with the pharmaceutical company Merck Sharp & Dohme was commercially sensitive. But patients paying for the drugs themselves would have faced a bill of about $300 a year compared with the standard prescription fee of between $12 and $60 a year.

He said that of the 180,000 already eligible for statins only 80,000 were being treated with them.

Pharmac planned to be part of a campaign to promote their responsible use to those who would benefit, Mr McNee said.

Patients also needed to use diet and exercise to reduce their risk of heart disease.

National Heart Foundation medical director Diana North said the decision was "great news".

"They are a very effective, extremely cost-effective medication."

Dr North said 40 per cent of New Zealanders die of cardiovascular disease, so this decision would have a huge impact.

Research had found statins were effective in lowering heart attack rates, hospital admissions and death rates from heart attacks and strokes.

Diabetics and patients who had had recent heart attacks particularly stood to benefit, Dr North said.

The change was also welcomed by Auckland cardiologist Professor Harvey White, who said diabetics and the elderly could now be treated appropriately.

"GPs should be active in ensuring that this happens."

nzherald.co.nz/health