Medicines body delayed as Government struggles for backing

The launch of a new transtasman drugs agency has been delayed because the Government appears to be struggling to muster support for its creation.

The Australian Government announced on Wednesday the deferment of the agency's launch until July next year but was silent on the New Zealand Government's inability to get support for the legislation.

Health Minister Annette King released a similar statement yesterday afternoon, saying the proposed Therapeutic Products Agency now had a "firm operational date" and blaming the election cycle in both countries for making it difficult to adhere to the original timetable.

But behind the scenes the Government has struggled to get political support for legislation necessary to establish the body.

The agency has been under fire from alternative medicines industry representatives who say it will choke them in red tape, cost consumers choice, raise prices, and put small NZ firms out of business through the use of draconian Australian regulations.

Designed to replace the Health Ministry's Medsafe division and Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration, the agency was officially agreed between the two countries in December 2003 - a day after Parliament's health select committee unanimously recommended that the idea be shelved.

NZ First health spokeswoman Barbara Stewart said yesterday that it was an international embarrassment that the Government had signed a treaty for the agency without the numbers to pass the legislation.

The Herald understands the Government is targeting National and United Future in an attempt to get support.