Pharmac answers critics

Pharmac has defended its record after claims it funded fewer medicines than those made available Australia.

The Researched Medicines Industry Association (RMI) said yesterday that Australia had 792 drugs and 2500 products on its pharmaceutical benefits schedule, while New Zealand had 713 drugs and 1815 products respectively.

Association chairwoman Dr Pippa MacKay said it was "a scandal that New Zealanders are deprived of medicines that are available in Australia".

"There is no reason why New Zealanders should not have similar access to medicines as do people in other developed countries, and even these numbers don't tell the whole story," she said.

"Pharmac's eligibility rules for medicines that are ultimately listed on the schedule are far more restrictive than in other countries, which means that only a fraction of those who should benefit from the treatment actually do."

However, Pharmac chief executive Wayne McNee said the numbers appeared to be different because of the different products included or excluded from each list.

New Zealand had more funded chemicals of formulations of the same chemical with distinctly different uses. New Zealand had 717 and Australia 655.

"The RMI analysis includes all pharmaceutical cancer treatments used in hospitals - Pharmac's [analysis] excludes those not listed in the community pharmaceutical schedule."

Mr McNee said more brands of pharmaceuticals were funded in Australia because more than one brand of the same off-patent medicine was often funded.

Pharmac tendered for one supplier and used price competition to obtain the best price, he said.

The association said it was time Pharmac stopped the spin. "It is no wonder that we see the constant sad parade of people with tragic illnesses begging the Government to fund drugs that will help them," Dr MacKay said.

- NZPA