Pharmac

Pharmac's generic drug swap for epilepsy treatment saved $30 million over five years. But for some patients, the consequences were nightmarish.   Audio

The strongest evidence yet that Pharmac's brand switch of epilepsy drugs may have been a factor in fatal seizures was heard at an inquest today.

The inquest is looking into the death of six patients… Audio

The government is being warned it will have blood on its hands unless it reconsiders what the inquiry into drug-buying agency Pharmac examines.

The terms of reference of the long-awaited independent… Audio

Pharmac knew there would be clinical reasons why some epilepsy patients would not tolerate a change to their medicines but went ahead with a switch that forced more than 10,000 people to change brands… Video, Audio

Last year Newshub put its weight behind a campaign to fund a treatment for cystic fibrosis from the public purse even though the cost was sky-high and the US-based maker never applied to register it… Audio

Diabetes is a massive health issue for New Zealand and disproportionately affects Māori and Pasifika. So why are we so far behind when it comes to using new drugs that improve treatment?  Audio

Pharmac director of operations Lisa Williams talks to Kathryn about the Covid 19 disrupted manufacturing and supply chain which means some commonly prescribed medications are scarce. This is affecting… Audio

Medication shortages because of Covid-19 are affecting tens of thousands of patients, with no clear timeline for a return to normal. Drugs in short supply include four commonly used contraceptive… Audio

The ACT Party plans to drastically reduce the number of District Health Boards and seek a review of Pharmac, if they help form part of the next government.

ACT's leader, David Seymour released the… Audio

At 15, Bella Powell was told she had only two years to live if her CF went untreated. With nothing to lose, Bella, now 17, started taking a drug called Trikafta, and within hours she noticed results… Audio

Newshub has put its weight behind a campaign to fund a “miracle drug” for cystic fibrosis patients from the public purse. But are its viewers getting the full picture? Audio

How is the country's new Cancer Control Agency going to balance the demand for new, expensive cancer treatments within limited resources? The establishment of the Agency was announced last last year… Audio

There's more pressure on Pharmac with another death possibly linked to the drug-funding agency's decision to switch brands of epilepsy drugs.

It is the fifth fatality reported to the Centre for… Video, Audio

A mental health patient who has been taking Lamotrigine for five years says she is now in limbo, and doesn't know whether to return to her preferred brand or stick with Logem.

Erin lives with… Video, Audio

Pharmac has been left red-faced as a cost-saving initiative appears to have backfired, and it retreated on its plan to shift thousands of patients from their prescribed drugs to a cheaper alternative.

From tomorrow Pharmac will no longer fund the drugs used by 95-percent of people with epilepsy, instead paying for only one generic drug. The Transport Agency says some of those using the new brand… Audio

Cancer patients are crying out for much more radical change, saying the country's new action plan doesn't go far enough and the funding boost is just a drop in the ocean.

The government announced the… Audio

Heartbreaking stories of cancer sufferers who need expensive and unfunded drugs abound. But some of those stories are helped into the spotlight by the drug companies that will also benefit.  Audio

Pharmac has struck a deal with pharmaceutical company Roche and now proposes to fund two cancer drugs and a multiple sclerosis drug from December this year. Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition chair… Video, Audio