NZ asthma drugs 'a blast from past'

By FRANCESCA MOLD

New Zealand is stuck in a mid-1990s time warp when it comes to prescribing new combinations of asthma drugs.

Scotland-based researcher Dr Andrew Greening wants New Zealand's drug funding agency, Pharmac, to lift restrictions on an anti-asthma product known as Serevent. The drug is an asthma medication described as a long-acting beta 2 agonist.

Research projects by Dr Greening and other experts have found Serevent, in combination with inhaled corticosteroids like Flixotide and Becotide, can significantly reduce symptoms in sufferers.

Serevent was registered for use in New Zealand in 1992 and has been funded by Pharmac since 1996, but only for asthmatics who are taking high doses of inhaled corticosteriods.

This restriction has continued despite recommendations two years ago from the medical body, which advises the drug funder, that it should reduce the level of inhaled corticosteroids required to be taken by patients before Serevent can be prescribed.

Dr Greening, who discussed his research with Pharmac officials this week, was also critical that a drug called Seretide, a combination of Flixotide and Serevant, is not yet available in New Zealand.

Seretide, used in Britain for more than two years, delivers the combination of drugs in the same device, which is more convenient for asthma sufferers.



"I guess the message is that New Zealand GPs have been deprived of the opportunity of prescribing these drugs to patients who would benefit," said Dr Greening.

"The attitude appears to be that of a money-saving exercise, which is a very limited view."

He said funders must weigh the costs of the new asthma drugs against the financial burden of saving someone from suffering symptoms.

"You have to look at the whole financial equation. You must measure the quality of life, the number of days patients have to take off work as a result of their illness, the cost of visiting the doctor over and over, or even multiple hospitalisations."

He said New Zealand had been deprived of the opportunity to use best asthma management for patients since the mid-1990s.