Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Sole supply of pharmaceuticals
15 March 2005
Sole supply of pharmaceuticals - a crisis waiting to happen
The Researched Medicines Industry today warns that sole supply contracts for pharmaceuticals are putting the health of New Zealanders at risk.
"It is PHARMAC's preference for sole supply arrangements that have lead to the current situation with the influenza vaccine," says RMI Chairman, Dr Pippa MacKay.
Dr MacKay says that while PHARMAC has successfully used sole supply arrangements with pharmaceutical manufacturers to cut costs, these savings simply do not outweigh the inherent risks of using only one supplier.
"If the manufacturer fails to meet their supply obligations PHARMAC can take them to task, but this does not resolve the problem for the people who need the medicines now and cannot afford to wait for another supplier to come to the rescue".
"With the influenza vaccine we now have a public health issue that may well result in illness, additional health costs and a drain on scarce health resources. All of this may have been avoided if PHARMAC had put good sense ahead of dollars and signed up more than one supplier".
ENDS
Little Miracles Trust: The Little Miracles Trust World Prematurity Day Campaign
NZ Society for the Study of Diabetes: Critical Workforce Shortages Leave People With Type 1 Diabetes Unable To Access Life Changing Technology
Kindergartens Aotearoa: Kindergartens Aotearoa Opposes Lower Standards For Homebased Services
Universities New Zealand - Te Pokai Tara: Three Outstanding Aotearoa New Zealand Students Awarded Rhodes Scholarships
University of Auckland: 800 Mathematicians Set To Converge On Auckland
NZEI Te Riu Roa: NZEI Te Riu Roa Joins Calls To Restore Cut To Pasifika Early Literacy Project