Drug-maker's survey hits at Pharmac

Almost seven out of 10 adult New Zealanders support an independent review of the Government's medicines funding agency, Pharmac, a survey has revealed.

Most people also believe there needs to be better access to new medicines and doctors should have more input into Pharmac's decisions, says the poll, commissioned by pharmaceutical company Pfizer New Zealand.

But Pharmac yesterday accused Pfizer of political posturing.

The survey by UMR Insight sought the views of 750 people aged 18 or older.

There was 68 per cent support for an independent review of Pharmac, with 50 per cent saying New Zealanders had worse access to new medicines than countries such as Australia.

Support for a review came from 71 per cent of those with a chronic illness or with a close family member suffering from chronic illness.

Just 6 per cent said New Zealand had better access to new medicines and 29 per cent said there was the same access on both sides of the Tasman.

Pfizer general manager Mark Crotty says the survey showed a high level of disquiet with Pharmac.

"The funding regime in New Zealand severely restricts patient access to important medicines in the treatment of heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer's, diabetes and many other illnesses," Mr Crotty said.

"If political parties want to get serious about making our health system in New Zealand more efficient and deliver better results for patients, reviewing the way in which medicines are funded is an urgent priority."

The poll results show that New Zealanders are aware they are missing out on medicines and want change, Mr Crotty says.

Pharmac chief executive Wayne McNee said a drug company-funded survey concluding that New Zealand needed to spend more money on drugs "is hardly surprising".

"We are aware that this is the latest in a series of surveys commissioned by Pfizer, and timed for the election calling for political parties to spend more money on the companies' drugs."

An internal review of Pharmac's operating policies and procedures was under way, including consulting the health sector, said Mr McNee.

Doctors were already heavily involved in Pharmac's decision-making.

The Pharmacology and Therapeutics Advisory Committee (PTAC) provided advice on every funding application, and was made up of nine practising clinicians.

PTAC also had 14 sub-committees with 62 doctors providing advice. In addition, doctors made up 10 per cent of Pharmac's staff.

Mr McNee said Pharmac regularly consulted doctors and medical professional groups on an ad hoc basis and as part of its consultation process.

The agency was independently reviewed in 2001. A Pharmac spokesman told NZPA many of the recommendations from that report had been implemented.

"Two of the recommendations were to consult on significant changes to the Pharmaceutical Schedule and to involve consumers in Pharmac's decisions."

Pharmac now consulted the health sector regularly on its proposals and formed a consumer advisory committee, he said.

Only 20 per cent of people in the Pfizer-commissioned survey were confident Pharmac struck the right balance between meeting healthcare needs and what New Zealand could afford, with 28 per cent not confident that it struck the right balance.

Thirty-nine per cent were neutral on the issue, with 13 per cent being unsure.

Pharmac says more than 20 new medicines have been funded over the past two years, and more than 150 since 1993.

Pharmaceutical funding this year will be $582 million, an increase of nearly $20 million on last year.

Those surveyed with a favourable opinion say Pharmac keeps medicine costs down for most people, it ensures most people get most of the best medicines and it does a good job balancing competing interests.

The survey's margin of error is plus or minus 3.6 per cent.

- NZPA