Source: PHARMAC
“We originally estimated that the uplift would allow us to fund around 54 medicines – 26 for cancer and 28 for other conditions – benefiting about 175,000 New Zealanders,” says Geraldine MacGibbon, Director Pharmaceuticals.
Pharmac has used the increase to fund 66 medicines – 33 for cancer conditions and 33 for non-cancer conditions. In the first year of funding, nearly 250,000 New Zealanders will benefit from these medicines.
“These medicines are making a real difference in people’s lives,” says MacGibbon.
“They’re helping New Zealanders manage a wide range of health conditions – from cancer and heart failure to osteoporosis and schizophrenia.”
For example, about 580 people are expected to benefit from aripiprazole depot injection, used to treat schizophrenia. This medicine works by correcting chemical imbalances in the brain and can reduce the risk of schizophrenia symptoms coming back.
Having access to the medicine denosumab will help 1,900 people with osteoporosis to live healthier lives.
“We heard from people living with osteoporosis that this medicine helps reduce the risk of fractures and supports them to stay active in their communities,” MacGibbon says.
Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) was one of the first medicines funded through the budget increase. It’s now available for people with several types of cancer, including triple-negative breast cancer and Hodgkin lymphoma.
“Access to these medicines will slow down the progression of these cancers and improve survival, so that people have more valuable time with their whānau and friends,” MacGibbon says.
For 18,000 New Zealanders living with chronic heart failure, access to the heart medicine empagliflozin can reduce the risk of needing to be hospitalised, protect their heart, and reduce the risk of kidney failure.
People with severe eczema also now have access to upadacitinib to help manage their condition. Upadacitinib is a medicine that supresses immune and inflammatory processes in eczema and provides a treatment option for those with severe disease.
“These are just a few of the life-changing treatments that we’ve been able to fund using the budget increase,” says MacGibbon.
Looking ahead, while there was no additional increase to the medicines budget in 2025, Pharmac will continue to fund new medicines through its usual funding and savings activities. These tools allow Pharmac to keep funding and widening access to medicines that make a meaningful difference for New Zealanders.
