Drugs, Devices, and Diagnostics
Latest | Media coverage | Commentary | Academic Literature | Legislation | Reports and Government Documents
Covering prescription medicines and medical devices, which includes instruments, implants, scans and tests, as well as screening and health promoting interventions.
Latest
Media coverage
Most high-income countries ban direct advertising of prescription drugs – why does NZ still allow it?
New Zealand and the United States are the only high-income countries to allow unrestricted direct-to-consumer advertising of branded medicines, including the name of the drug and the condition for which it is prescribed.
Health New Zealand backtracks on Keytruda delay, will allow early access to some patients
Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora has backed down on a plan to delay free access to a life-extending cancer drug after a backlash by patients and advocates.
Health NZ blocks free early access to cancer drug Keytruda
Patient advocates are accusing Health New Zealand of "cruelty" towards a small group of cancer patients, who are being forced to wait two more months for a newly-funded drug.
Commentary
Government’s instructions for Pharmac w/ University of Auckland’s Professor Paula Lorgelly: 22nd July, 2024
Last week, Associate Health Minister David Seymour released his letter to Pharmac setting out his expectations for the agency.
Expectations set for improved medicines access
Associate Health Minister David Seymour says he has set clear expectations for Pharmac around delivering the medicines and medical technology that Kiwis need.
Government Policy Statement on Health 2024–2027
The Government Policy Statement on Health 2024-27 is the public statement of what Government expects the health system to deliver and achieve, and how success will be measured, monitored, and reported.
Academic Literature
Impact of removing prescription co-payments on the use of costly health services: a pragmatic randomised controlled trial
Eliminating a small co-payment appears to have had a substantial effect on patients’ risk of being hospitalised.
Is PHARMAC’s decision-making fair? Findings from an evaluation of decision-making in the New Zealand health system
The recent publication of the interim report of the PHARMAC Review Panel raises important questions of the role and processes of PHARMAC in securing equitable access to pharmaceuticals for all New Zealanders.
Legislation and Parliament
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Reports and Government Documents
Misuse of Drugs (Pseudoephedrine) Amendment Bill
Health Committee. In accordance with the Government’s commitment to allow the sale of cold and flu medication containing pseudoephedrine, the purpose of this Bill is to change the classification of pseudoephedrine as a controlled drug. This Bill reclassifies...
Revised Code of Practice for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology ORS C1
The Radiation Safety Act 2016 (the Act) is administered by the Manatū Hauora – the Ministry of Health (the Ministry). Section 86(1) of the Act allows the Director for Radiation Safety (Director) to issue codes of practice. This is for the purpose of specifying technical requirements.
Cabinet material: Amendments to prescribing regulations for controlled drugs
Cabinet papers:
Amendments to prescribing regulations for controlled drugs
Misuse of Drugs Amendment Regulations
Key issues
HEALTH SERVICES AND SYSTEMS
EQUITY
DRUGS, DEVICE AND DIAGNOSTICS
PUBLIC HEALTH
DIGITAL HEALTH
TE TIRITI