25 February 2014 - PHARMAC is asking for people’s views on a proposed new framework for making pharmaceutical funding decisions.
PHARMAC currently uses a set of nine criteria to guide the decisions it makes about pharmaceutical funding. With PHARMAC’s role expanding to include hospital medicines, vaccines and eventually hospital medical devices, the factors PHARMAC takes account of need reviewing.
Chief executive Steffan Crausaz says the proposed new decision-making framework is the result of a broad consultation held last year, in which PHARMAC asked for the community’s views on what PHARMAC should think about when making decisions.
Consultation ran for three months and included 12 community forums throughout New Zealand.
“When we analysed feedback from that process, it confirmed what people want us to think about. It also showed our process could be better explained and expanded to include some other factors,” says Steffan Crausaz. “In putting together this proposal, we have looked to reflect what people told us they want to see.”
“We are aiming to more clearly demonstrate what we should take into account when making funding decisions. We hope this will result in people better understanding our decisions.”
Steffan Crausaz says the proposed new format shows that PHARMAC looks at the impact of decisions across four aspects – need, suitability, benefits and costs. Each of those aspects is considered in relation to the patient, the treatment, and the health sector.
For more information, go to: http://www.pharmac.health.nz/news/media-2014-02-25-decision-criteria-consultation/