New Zealanders now waiting over 3 years for many new drugs

New Zealanders are waiting for over 35 cost-effective medicines recommended by the country’s Pharmaceutical Management Agency PHARMAC’s technical advisory committee. The average waiting time is now over three years.

“Accessing the right medicines at the right time is crucial. The reality is that New Zealanders have been missing out on effective medicines for too long” said Graeme Jarvis, general manager of trade group Medicines New Zealand. It’s time to treat patients – not ask for patience, the trade group argues.

A recent report shows that investment in innovative medicines saved Australian taxpayers almost $7 billion in hospital costs, and saving over 140,000 years of life before the age of 75 for Australian patients.