Heart medicine price cut

Photo / The Aucklander

People at risk of heart attacks will have easier access to treatment from next month when the price of cholesterol-lowering medication is cut.

Pharmac, the government agency which buys and manages community pharmaceuticals, today announced the price of the cholesterol absorption inhibitor ezetimibe would be reduced by up to half from October 1.

The price-cut followed another decision from Pharmac to remove restrictions on who was eligible for funding for the statin drug atorvastatin from September 1.

"As the price of these drugs has come down, this has given us opportunities to make them available for greater numbers of patients," Pharmac medical director Peter Moodie said.

"Higher prices meant having to target access to those patients with greatest need. More than 300,000 New Zealanders are currently prescribed statins and for many of these people atorvastatin will now be an option."

- NZPA