Pharmac
Pharmac criticised for waiting too long to fund Keytruda
A woman who had Stage IV melanoma has criticised Pharmac for not funding Keytruda earlier, saying hundreds of lives could have been saved. Video
Pharmac called on to improve funding practices
Melanoma sufferers who missed out on Keytruda, now funded by Pharmac, are still paying the price, a parliamentary select committee has been told. Audio
Life-saving melanoma drug rollout to cost DHBs 'millions'
District health boards face costs of more than $1 million to deliver long-awaited new melanoma drugs to patients.
Hep C Buyers Club
Hazel Heal has suffered from Hepatitis C for about 30 years, and she joined the FixHepC Buyers Club - which helps patients import new medications at a fraction of the cost. Audio
Pharmac explains Keytruda deal timing
Pharmac's decision to fund a new - and expensive - drug for advanced melanoma was based on new trial research released in the last few months, it says. Video
Why did Pharmac wait on funding Opdivo, Keytruda?
Why did cancer patients in New Zealand have to wait so long for Keytruda? Sarah Fitt, Pharmac's Director of Operations, joins Checkpoint. Audio
Cancer Society welcomes Keytruda decision
The Cancer Society says it was nonsense for Pharmac to suggest the research behind Keytruda was a reason not to fund the drug. We talk to the society's medical director, Chris Jackson. Audio
Pharmac reaches "commercially favourable" Keytruda agreement
Melanoma sufferers and cancer groups say Pharmac plans to fund the advanced melanoma drug Keytruda will save lives and change lives. We talk to Pharmac's Sarah Fitt about why Pharmac changed its mind.
…Cancer groups say Keytruda funding a breakthrough
Melanoma patients and cancer groups say Pharmac's plans to fund the advanced melanoma drug Keytruda will save lives and change lives. Sharon Brettkelly reports. Audio
Pharmac agrees plan to fund Keytruda
A melanoma patient who cashed in her retirement savings to pay for Keytruda is welcoming Pharmac's plan to fund the expensive drug. Video
Diabetes experts say NZ lags behind in drug treatments
Diabetes specialists say New Zealand is behind the rest of the world in getting funded drugs for type 2 diabetes that would improve the lives of tens of thousands of people. Audio
Pharmac announces funding of six new drugs
The Cancer Society says it's happy increased Pharmac funding means melanoma patients will finally get access to vital drugs, but it says some have died waiting. Audio
Pharmac reveals new drug funding list
Pharmac will fund six new treatments, including for advanced melanoma and hepatitis C, after being given an extra $124m over four years.
Pharmac to fund new treatments
Pharmac today announced that it would fund a number of new treatments for the treatment of advanced melanoma, hepatitis C and nephrotic syndrome in children. Audio
Melanoma patients seek early funded access to Opdivo
Anxious patients with advanced melanoma are pushing for temporary access to the drug Opdivo while awaiting long-term decisions. Audio
Two new drugs in Pharmac fund spree
Pharmac will fund two new medicines to treat illnesses including a drug-resistant form of tuberculosis which poses a risk, the drug-buying agency says.
Mike Berridge: mitochondria, DNA and disease
Kim Hill talks to the Distinguished Research Fellow and Group Leader, Cancer Cell and Molecular Biology at the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, who is co-leader of a world-first research… Audio
Pharmac's drug-funding bonanza
ANALYSIS: A funding boost from the government and DHBs means Pharmac is spreading its pharmaceutical-buying wings, writes Karen Brown
Pharmac consults on new drugs for melanoma, Hep C
New Zealanders with advanced melanoma, Hepatitis C, forms of lung disease, brain tumours, kidney disease and menopause are set to benefit from new publicly funded drugs. Audio
Kathryn Williams discusses Pharmac's Opdivo announcement
Pharmac announced today it intends funding immunotherapy drug Opdivo for 350 patients with advanced melanoma from July. Video, Audio
