Latest news with #AdrienneMartin
Scoop
3 days ago
- Health
- Scoop
Nutrition Replacements Fully Funded For Adults With Crohn's Disease Who Use Them As Their Only Source Of Nutrition
Pharmac is fully funding two brands of liquid nutrition replacements for adults with Crohn's disease who use them as their only source of nutrition. The nutrition replacements are Ensure Plus and Fortisip (200ml bottles, 1.5kcal/ml) and changes to funding will take place from 1 July 2025. Adrienne Martin, Pharmac's Manager Pharmaceutical Funding says, 'we are removing the additional cost on Ensure Plus and Fortisip so adults with Crohn's disease, who use them as their only source of nutrition, can continue to access and benefit from fully funded treatment.' Crohn's is a type of inflammatory bowel disease. Some people with this condition use these nutrition replacements as their exclusive diet for a period of 4–12 weeks. The goal of this exclusive diet is to rest the gut, to reduce inflammation and promote healing. This also may help manage symptoms and reduce the likelihood of needing surgery. A different fully funded nutrition replacement was previously available for these people, but the supplier stopped making it. 'We are grateful to those who provided feedback to our proposal and shared it with their community. Having this additional information from clinicians and the community helps with our decisions.' "Our role is to help people access the medicines and related products they need to improve their health. We estimate around 200 adults with Crohn's disease will benefit from the funding each year." says Martin
RNZ News
5 days ago
- Health
- RNZ News
Pharmac to fund two oestrogen patches
Patients will be able to use either brand, "subject to availability". Photo: 123RF People who need oestrogen patches will have access to two brands free of charge from 1 December. Pharmac announced they had decided following consultation earlier this year to fund the oestradiol patches Estradot and Estradiol TDP Mylan. Patients will be able to use either brand, "subject to availability". Manager for pharmaceutical funding Adrienne Martin said the agency understood the importance for "people to have access to the treatment that works best for them". "We've heard very clearly from many people that while different brands of patches should work the same, this is not everyone's experience. "That's why we're funding two brands - so that people can access the oestradiol patches they need, depending on availability." From 1 December, the other currently funded brands of oestradiol patches will no longer be funded. The final decision followed a public backlash to Pharmac's decision in November to fund only the Mylan-brand, due to ongoing shortages of Estradot. More than 1300 people signed a petition calling on the government to keep the Estradot brand available on the basis the Mylan-brand was less effective in controlling menopausal symptoms. Martin said more than 1100 people responded to Pharmac's request for public feedback earlier this year. "We heard from people who wanted us to remove the patch limit and change the dispensing rules," said Martin. "We acknowledge how frustrating these limits are for people but changing or removing them would put pressure on demand, which would increase the risk of these patches not being available. "We will review the patch limit and dispensing rules in 12 months depending on the supply outlook." Pharmac would continue to monitor supply and work to ensure people can access the treatments they need, she said.
Scoop
5 days ago
- Health
- Scoop
Pharmac To Fund Two Brands Of Oestradiol Patches From 1 December 2025
Pharmac will fund two brands of oestradiol patches – Estradot and Estradiol TDP Mylan – from 1 December 2025. People will be able to use either brand of patch, subject to availability. From this date, the other currently funded brands of oestradiol patches will no longer be funded. 'We know how important it is for people to have access to the treatment that works best for them,' says Pharmac's Manager of Pharmaceutical Funding, Adrienne Martin. 'We've heard very clearly from many people, that while different brands of patches should work the same, this is not everyone's experience. 'That's why we're funding two brands – so that people can access the oestradiol patches they need, depending on availability.' Earlier this year, Pharmac asked for feedback on a proposal to fund both the Estradot and Estradiol TDP Mylan brands of oestradiol patches. More than 1,100 people responded to the consultation. 'Most people supported the proposal, especially the continued funding of Estradot. Some people expressed concerns about also funding the Estradiol TDP Mylan brand, while others wanted more brands funded alongside Estradot. 'We want to thank everyone who took the time to share their experiences with menopause and using oestradiol patches,' says Martin. 'Your feedback has had a real impact on this decision.' Pharmac has secured as much Estradot as the supplier can provide. However, global supply issues remain. Demand for oestradiol patches has increased significantly in New Zealand and internationally, and the manufacturer of Estradot has not been able to produce enough to meet this growing demand. 'There may still be times when Estradot isn't available for everyone who needs it,' says Martin. 'That's why having another funded brand available is so important.' To help manage supply, both brands will continue to have a '2 patch per week' limit on each strength. People will also continue to receive one month's supply at a time from their pharmacy. We heard from people who wanted us to remove the patch limit and change the dispensing rules,' says Martin. 'We acknowledge how frustrating these limits are for people but changing or removing them would put pressure on demand, which would increase the risk of these patches not being available. 'We will review the patch limit and dispensing rules in 12 months depending on the supply outlook.' Pharmac will continue to monitor supply and work to ensure people can access the treatments they need.
Scoop
19-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Pharmac Proposes To Fully Fund Nutrition Replacements For Some People With Crohn's Disease
Pharmac is proposing to fully fund two liquid nutrition replacements for adults with Crohn's disease who use them as their only source of nutrition. Crohn's is a type of inflammatory bowel disease. Some people with Crohn's disease may use liquid nutrition replacements as their exclusive, full diet for a period of 4–12 weeks. The goal of this exclusive liquid nutrition diet is to rest the gut, to reduce inflammation and promote healing. This also may help manage symptoms and reduce the likelihood of needing surgery. The nutrition replacements in this proposal are Ensure Plus and Fortisip (200ml, 1.5kcal/ml). They are currently partly or fully funded for some health conditions in the community. A different fully funded nutrition replacement was previously available for people using it exclusively, but the supplier has stopped making it. Adrienne Martin, Pharmac's Manager Pharmaceutical Funding says, 'we've received advice from clinicians treating people with Crohn's disease that Ensure Plus and Fortisip are suitable alternatives, but they're only partly funded for some people with Crohn's disease.' Pharmac wants to remove this additional cost on Ensure Plus and Fortisip so people with Crohn's disease, who use them as their only source of nutrition, can continue to access and benefit from nutrition replacements. "Our role is to help people access the medicines and related products they need to improve their health. We estimate around 200 adults with Crohn's disease would benefit from the funding each year." says Martin. People can provide feedback through Pharmac's website until Thursday 4 June. Following public consultation, Pharmac will make a decision on the funding proposal. If approved, these medicines are expected be fully funded from 1 July 2025.
