PHARMAC is pleased to announce decisions to list, delist and amend the restrictions for various pharmaceuticals in Section B or Part II of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule (the Hospital Medicines List; HML), from 1 August 2015 (unless otherwise noted). All of these were the subject of a consultation letter dated 20 May 2015, available on PHARMAC’s website.

The proposals were approved essentially as consulted on, with the exception of the following:

• An amendment was made to the proposed restriction changes for aripiprazole for severe irritability associated with autism spectrum disorder, such that the renewal criteria do not include a requirement for the patient to be aged under 18 years.
• No decision has been made on the proposal to widen access to somatropin for people with Prader-Willi syndrome. Some significant clinical issues were raised in consultation responses, and we require additional time to consider them and seek further clinical advice before a decision can be made on the proposal

For more details, go to: http://www.pharmac.health.nz/news/notification-2015-07-17-various-pharmaceuticals/