There's been yet another call to shake-up how Pharmac funds drugs in Aotearoa. 

Multiple Sclerosis New Zealand's independently commissioned report recommends the Crown entity adapts a cost benefit model. 

That means funding decisions would be made not just on the cost of a drug or medical device itself, but on the wider fiscal impact the decision would have on our society. 

President Neil Woodhams says that currently, Pharmac doesn't take into account the total economic costs —or costs to individuals— when making the call. 

He says the failure to do so gives a distorted view of the benefits from proposed new medicines. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

There's been yet another call to shake-up how Pharmac funds drugs in Aotearoa.&nbsp;
Multiple Sclerosis New Zealand's independently commissioned report recommends the Crown entity adapts a cost benefit model.&nbsp;
That means funding decisions would be made not just on the cost of a drug or medical device itself, but on the wider fiscal impact the decision would have on our society.&nbsp;
President Neil Woodhams says that currently, Pharmac doesn't take into account the total economic costs —or costs to individuals— when making the call.&nbsp;
He says the failure to do so gives a distorted view of the benefits from proposed new medicines.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

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Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Neil Woodhams: Multiple Sclerosis New Zealand President on their call to change how Pharmac funds drugs in New Zealand

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/307247e3-4cd2-44b8-a53d-b20901582ac5/transcript