Posted by Michael Wonder on 08 Oct 2019
Proposal to increase the subsidy for hexamine hippurate tablets and for flecainide acetate injection
8 October 2019 - PHARMAC is seeking feedback on a proposal to increase the subsidy payable for two currently funded treatments through a provisional agreement with Radiant Health Limited.
In summary, this proposal would result in the following changes from 1 December 2019:
- Hexamine hippurate (Hiprex) tablets would be fully funded
- Flecainide acetate (Tambocor) injection would remain fully funded
This consultation shows how PHARMAC is focussing on the minutia and not on the main game.
Hexamine hippurate and flecainide are both old, out of patent medicines; the former was first approved in the US in 1967 and the latter in 1985. Both should have been fully funded years ago. Hexamine hippurate is no longer listed on the PBS; probably because it is a redundant technology.
