New Zealand's PHARMAC lifts restrictions on some cancer drugs

New Zealand’s Pharmaceutical Management Agency PHARMAC has removed the Special Authority funding requirements from seven cancer treatments, and from the diabetes treatment pioglitazone. Special Authorities define the clinical criteria patients must meet to receive some funded medicines. Clinicians must complete a Special Authority application and receive approval before prescribing in order for the patient to receive the funded medicine.

PHARMAC’s medical director Peter Moodie, says the lifting of these funding restrictions is a positive step. “Removing the Special Authorities from these cancer treatments will significantly reduce administrative demands on the hospital oncologists and haematologists who routinely prescribe these drugs,” says Dr Moodie.

In addition, he says, “one of the medicines being de-restricted is capecitabine, a tablet which can be used in place of 5-flourouracil, a chemotherapy infusion that patients need to receive in hospitals or special treatment centers. Patients prescribed capecitabine will have a more convenient treatment option which they can take at home and this is particularly helpful for rural people and reduces their costs of receiving treatment. Removing the Special Authority restrictions will also free up hospital resources that can be used to treat more patients overall, which will help District Health Boards (DHBs) achieve the government health priority to reduce cancer treatment waiting times.”