Pharmac takes issue over asthma inhalers

By MARTIN JOHNSTON

Government medicine-buyer Pharmac is trying to foil a drug company's bid to lure at least 44,000 asthma patients on to more expensive inhalers.

GlaxoSmithKline says it is phasing out its Becotide and Becloforte corticosteroid inhalers, which use a CFC propellant, "later this year". This is to comply with an international protocol on the reduction of CFC use.

It is urging patients to ask their GPs about switching to the CFC-free Glaxo inhaler, Flixotide.

"To avoid additional costs to users of Becotide and Becloforte, GlaxoSmithKline is supplying doctors with Flixotide inhalers," the company says.

"Patients will receive their first Flixotide inhaler from their doctor without paying any prescription cost."

But Pharmac has told doctors it is not necessary to switch patients to Flixotide.

Pharmac medical director Dr Peter Moodie said Glaxo was contracted to supply Becotide and Becloforte until October 1.

By then, a CFC-free version of those drugs would be available from another supplier, Air Flow, a subsidiary of the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation.

All, including Flixotide, are fully subsidised by Pharmac, but Flixotide is more expensive so patients moving on to it would increase Government costs.