Pharmac

There, a government agency called Pharmac evaluates the efficacy of new drugs, decides which drugs are cost-effective, and negotiates the prices to be paid by the national health-care system.

My Drug Problem 2009

The National Party is in — and it promised to fully fund Herceptin, bypassing the Pharmac process altogether.

My Drug Problem 2009

Eventually, Pharmac decided that Herceptin was worth paying for — but only for nine weeks, or three treatments.

My Drug Problem 2009

Unfortunately for patients, Pharmac gets those impressive results by saying no to new treatments.

My Drug Problem 2009

These functions are separate in most countries, but thanks to this integrated approach, Pharmac has indeed tamed the national drug budget.

My Drug Problem 2009

There, a government agency called Pharmac evaluates the efficacy of new drugs, decides which drugs are cost-effective, and negotiates the prices to be paid by the national health-care system.

My Drug Problem 2009

When Pharmac was denying Herceptin to early-stage patients, it was fully funding the drug, without limitations, for women with advanced metastatic cancer, who are just buying time.

My Drug Problem 2009

The National Party is in — and it promised to fully fund Herceptin, bypassing the Pharmac process altogether.

My Drug Problem 2009

Unfortunately for patients, Pharmac gets those impressive results by saying no to new treatments.

My Drug Problem 2009

Eventually, Pharmac decided that Herceptin was worth paying for — but only for nine weeks, or three treatments.

My Drug Problem 2009