PHARMAC is pleased to announce decisions to remove or amend the funding restrictions for a number of pharmaceuticals. All of these, except for the decision regarding macrogol 3350, were the subject of a consultation letter dated 25 July 2014.

The proposals were approved essentially as consulted on, with the exception of the proposed changes to bee and wasp venom allergy treatments for which no decision has been made at this time.

The Special Authority and/or Hospital Medicines List Restrictions for the following products will be removed from 1 October 2014 (unless another date is specified below):

• Bicalutamide
• Imiquimod (from 1 February 2015)
• Mycophenolate mofetil
• Nicorandil
• Perhexiline maleate

For more details, go to: http://www.pharmac.health.nz/news/notification-2014-08-29-various-pharmaceuticals/