PHARMAC launches new tool to help track medicine

PHARMAC launches new tool to help track medicine funding applications

PHARMAC has launched a new online tool that will give people a look inside PHARMAC’s evaluation of medicine funding applications.

The Application Tracker, available on the PHARMAC website (www.pharmac.govt.nz) conveniently brings together information on the medicines PHARMAC is considering for funding.

Acting Chief Executive Steffan Crausaz says although a small amount of information will always need to remain confidential to ensure PHARMAC is able to negotiate with large pharmaceutical companies on behalf of New Zealanders, the tracker gets people as close as possible to PHARMAC’s assessment of individual funding applications.

“We publish an extensive amount of information on the assessment of applications for funding medicines. The Application Tracker brings this information together in a more coherent and accessible manner,” Steffan Crausaz says. “This is something we are excited about making available to our stakeholders and it aligns with the Actioning Medicines New Zealand plan.”

The Tracker enables people to search for medicines by brand name, pharmaceutical name or therapeutic group, or the name of the applicant. It brings together the results of committee and sub-committee deliberations on the application, together with recommendations and the status of the application.

The Application Tracker is not the same as the list of funded medicines, which remains the Pharmaceutical Schedule (also available on the PHARMAC website).

“If people have an interest in a particular drug that is being considered by PHARMAC, the Application Tracker will provide an improved way of keeping tabs on its progress through our assessment process,” says Steffan Crausaz. “We look forward to receiving feedback on ways to further develop this tool,” he says.

At present the Tracker contains data dating back to 2008, however older information will be included in future.

ENDS

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