A new report examining how medicines are funded in New Zealand suggests it's too cost-focused and should instead be approached as an investment in Kiwis' welfare.
The ShawView report - commissioned by Johnson&Johnson - says New Zealand is falling behind similar high-income OECD countries in providing access to new treatments.
It suggests immediately funding the 109 medicines sitting on Pharmac's Options for Investment List, the creation of a government plan to increase the annual medicines budget to get it closer to the OECD average, developing new financing mechanisms, setting up a dedicated fund to finance innovative new medicines and creating a national medicine policy.
Brendan Shaw is behind the report - he's worked in a number of roles across government, NGOs and pharmaceutical associations - including Medicines Australia and with the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations.
Photo: RNZ
