PHARMAC is seeking feedback on a proposal for various pharmaceuticals (including new listings, amendments to funding restrictions and a delisting) from 1 May 2015. The proposed changes are summarised below. 

The following product would be listed in Section B of the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 May 2015:

• Glycopyrronium bromide injection 200 mcg/mL, 1 mL ampoule

The following products would be listed in Part II of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule (the Hospital Medicines List; HML) from 1 May 2015:

• Mannitol powder for inhalation
• Altepase injection 2 mg vial
• Cardioplegia solution (e.g. Custodiol-HTK)
• Multivitamin and mineral supplement for patients with burns

The restrictions relating to the following products would be amended in Section B and/or Part II of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule (as applicable) as follows from 1 May 2015:

• Menthol: the compounding rules would be amended
• Dornase alfa: the Special Authority criteria would be amended to widen access to patients under the age of six and remove the FEV1 requirement from the eligibility criteria for long term use of dornase alfa.
• Erlotinib and gefitinib: access would be widened to allow patients experiencing intolerance within the first six weeks of starting either treatment to switch between these treatments.
• Trastuzumab: access would be widened to include neoadjuvant treatment.
• Infliximab: the restrictions for ulcerative colitis would be amended to include paediatric measures of severity.
• Zoledronic acid (Aclasta): access would be widened to include inherited bone fragility disorders.

For more details, go to: http://www.pharmac.health.nz/news/consultation-2015-03-09-various-pharmaceuticals/