PHARMAC is pleased to announce the outcome of the consultation on the draft request for proposals for supply of medicines for rare disorders which was the subject of a consultation letter dated 8 July 2014.

Overall, people supported PHARMAC trialling this new approach. Most people felt that $5 million per annum of contestable funding over five years was not enough. However, one submitter noted “$5 million seems insufficient but often good ideas start small”. Some people thought there was lack of clarity about whether this funding was ongoing or whether there was a risk that funding would cease after five years.

PHARMAC intends that any medicines listed on the Pharmaceutical Schedule as a result of the RFP would continue to be available for people as long as they continue to benefit, as measured by appropriate clinical criteria. PHARMAC has identified up to $5 million per annum that is available for funding rare disorders medicines through the RFP, without placing pressure on its other pharmaceutical funding commitments within the Combined Pharmaceutical Budget (CPB). PHARMAC will be evaluating whether the new approach has achieved its objective before considering whether to run a further RFP in future years.

PHARMAC is not proposing to ring-fence funding for rare disorders. Just as with any new medicine listed on the Pharmaceutical Schedule, any medicine funded as a result of the RFP would become a budget line in our forecast for managing the CPB.

For more details, go to: http://www.pharmac.health.nz/news/notification-2014-08-15-rare-disorders/