Latest news with #GeraldineMacGibbon
Scoop
3 days ago
- Health
- Scoop
Pharmac Declines Inactive Medicine Applications
Pharmac has declined 48 inactive funding applications so that it is clearer what medicines are currently being considered for funding. Director of Pharmaceuticals, Geraldine MacGibbon, says closing these applications is an important part of making sure Pharmac's work is transparent and easy to understand. 'We want people to know which treatments we are actively considering for funding,' she says. 'We decline applications if other medicines for the same condition have already been funded, making the application irrelevant. 'We also decline them if we have received clinical advice that recommends against funding this medicine, or we've found out that the medicine is unable to be supplied in New Zealand.' MacGibbon says that of the 56 applications assessed, 48 were declined, 1 was withdrawn by the supplier, and 7 remain active as a result of the consultation feedback. 'We're grateful for the feedback we received. Listening to people's personal experiences and perspectives helps us to understand the diverse health needs of our communities. 'I know that it can be disappointing to hear that a medicine is no longer being considered for funding. Declining an application now doesn't prevent us from considering the medicine for funding in the future if new information is provided. 'Our team works hard to make sure the medicines that would benefit New Zealanders move through our processes as quickly as possible.'
RNZ News
12-06-2025
- Health
- RNZ News
Pharmac considers extension to free meningoccocal B vaccination programme
An estimated 100,000 pre-schoolers are still unprotected. Photo: Pharmac says it's exploring ways to extend a free meningoccocal B vaccine programme, with an estimated 100,000 eligible pre-schoolers still not protected. Meningitis prevention advocates have pressured health officials to continue the campaign, which is due to end on 31 August. Pharmac pharmaceuticals director Geraldine MacGibbon said Pharmac funds the meningococcal B vaccine for all children under the age of one. "In March 2023, Pharmac funded a catch-up programme for children under the age of five to better protect young New Zealanders from meningococcal B. "We understand that people are keen to see the catch-up period extended and we are actively exploring options for this." "We will keep interested groups, including the Meningitis Foundation, informed about any updates," MacGibbon said. According to the Meningitis Foundation Aotearoa New Zealand, meningococcal bacteria can cause meningococcal meningitis - inflammation of the meninges, the membrane lining of the brain and spinal cord - and/or septicaemia (blood poisoning). Foundation chair Gerard Rushton said the meningococcal B vaccination programme was initiated after a submission the foundation made to Parliament and an application to Pharmac. He said more than 400,000 doses were given out in the first 12 months of the campaign. "We're calling on Health New Zealand and the government to actually continue this programme, because we know it works. We know it will save lives. "We know it's going to take pressure off the already-stretched health system. "What we're saying is this campaign has been very successful and it's been proven that people want it, but there's still 100,000 of our tamariki that haven't been protected, so we're calling them to keep this programme going. "We're really concerned that this large sector of our community are going to miss out. The vaccination rates for our young are still far too low, but we need them to extend this programme, because we need to protect those 100,000 of our children who are still unvaccinated." A Health New Zealand spokesperson said it was are "responsible for the implementation of the programme". "Pharmac funds the meningococcal B catch-up programme and set the timeframe from 1 March 2023 to 31 August 2025." A Health New Zealand spokesperson said, as of 9 June 2025, 84 percent of eligible children under 15 months had at least one dose of the meningococcal B vaccine. "Whānau can access the meningococcal B vaccines from a range of places, including general practice, hauora Māori and Pacific providers, with many Wellchild Tamariki Ora Services, including Whānau Āwhina Plunket, offering immunisations. "There are also more than 122 pharmacies now offering the vaccine for children aged from three years. "The meningococcal B vaccination is a part of the national immunisation schedule. "As a part of the Government's Health Target, we are focused on lifting childhood immunisation rates and we are making good progress towards this goal," said the spokesperson. Meningitis Foundation Aotearoa New Zealand chair Gerard Rushton said his organisation didn't see a reason for the catch-up programme to be discontinued. "Māori and Pasifika are 4-5 times more likely to catch meningitis than the European population, so they are a higher risk at the moment. We struggle to understand why there's a vaccination programme at the moment that actually discriminates against them. "The full vaccination programme was that the babies are free, there was a catch-up programme for 13-month to 5-year-olds, and that first-year students in boarding schools, halls of residence, barracks or prisons could get it free." "We feel that discriminates against the biggest at-risk group we've got, which is our Māori and Pasifika, because they're under-represented at halls of residence and boarding schools," he said.
RNZ News
12-06-2025
- Health
- RNZ News
Pharmac consider extension to free vaccination programme
An estimated 100,000 pre-schoolers are still unprotected. Photo: SERGII IAREMENKO/SCIENCE PHOTO L Pharmac says it's exploring ways to extend a free meningoccocal B vaccine programme, with an estimated 100,000 eligible pre-schoolers still not protected. Meningitis prevention advocates have pressured health officials to continue the campaign, which is due to end on 31 August. Pharmac pharmaceuticals director Geraldine MacGibbon said Pharmac funds the meningococcal B vaccine for all children under the age of one. "In March 2023, Pharmac funded a catch-up programme for children under the age of five to better protect young New Zealanders from meningococcal B. "We understand that people are keen to see the catch-up period extended and we are actively exploring options for this." "We will keep interested groups, including the Meningitis Foundation, informed about any updates," MacGibbon said. According to the Meningitis Foundation Aotearoa New Zealand, meningococcal bacteria can cause meningococcal meningitis - inflammation of the meninges, the membrane lining of the brain and spinal cord - and/or septicaemia (blood poisoning). Foundation chair Gerard Rushton said the meningococcal B vaccination programme was initiated after a submission the foundation made to Parliament and an application to Pharmac. He said more than 400,000 doses were given out in the first 12 months of the campaign. "We're calling on Health New Zealand and the government to actually continue this programme, because we know it works. We know it will save lives. "We know it's going to take pressure off the already-stretched health system. "What we're saying is this campaign has been very successful and it's been proven that people want it, but there's still 100,000 of our tamariki that haven't been protected, so we're calling them to keep this programme going. "We're really concerned that this large sector of our community are going to miss out. The vaccination rates for our young are still far too low, but we need them to extend this programme, because we need to protect those 100,000 of our children who are still unvaccinated." A Health New Zealand spokesperson said it was are "responsible for the implementation of the programme". "Pharmac funds the meningococcal B catch-up programme and set the timeframe from 1 March 2023 to 31 August 2025." A Health New Zealand spokesperson said, as of 9 June 2025, 84 percent of eligible children under 15 months had at least one dose of the meningococcal B vaccine. "Whānau can access the meningococcal B vaccines from a range of places, including general practice, hauora Māori and Pacific providers, with many Wellchild Tamariki Ora Services, including Whānau Āwhina Plunket, offering immunisations. "There are also more than 122 pharmacies now offering the vaccine for children aged from three years. "The meningococcal B vaccination is a part of the national immunisation schedule. "As a part of the Government's Health Target, we are focused on lifting childhood immunisation rates and we are making good progress towards this goal," said the spokesperson. Meningitis Foundation Aotearoa New Zealand chair Gerard Rushton said his organisation didn't see a reason for the catch-up programme to be discontinued. "Māori and Pasifika are 4-5 times more likely to catch meningitis than the European population, so they are a higher risk at the moment. We struggle to understand why there's a vaccination programme at the moment that actually discriminates against them. "The full vaccination programme was that the babies are free, there was a catch-up programme for 13-month to 5-year-olds, and that first-year students in boarding schools, halls of residence, barracks or prisons could get it free." "We feel that discriminates against the biggest at-risk group we've got, which is our Māori and Pasifika, because they're under-represented at halls of residence and boarding schools," he said.
Otago Daily Times
10-05-2025
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
Cancer patients welcome Pharmac boost
By Rachel Helyer Donaldson of RNZ Cancer specialists and patients with advanced melanoma have welcomed the news that three potentially life-saving skin cancer medicines are to be funded from 1 June. The state drug-buying agency Pharmac announced on Friday it would fund more medicines for people with late stage skin cancer (stage 3B to stage 4 melanoma). The decision includes widening access to pembrolizumab (branded as Keytruda), and funding dabrafenib, (Tafinlar) and trametinib (Mekinist), for the first time. Pharmac director pharmaceuticals Geraldine MacGibbon said the move would help 285 people by preventing their cancer from spreading or coming back. Melanoma NZ trustee and oncologist Dr Rosalie Stephens said the drugs were "both life-saving and life extending" and the decision was "welcome news". "I think this news will come as a huge relief because New Zealanders with melanoma are well-informed. They know the impact that these medicines are having overseas and stakeholders have been asking for this decision for some time, so psychologically I think there will be a huge degree of relief. "And also psychosocially, more broadly, as it will have a big impact on people's financial status because many New Zealanders have been paying out of pocket for these important medicines." Aucklander Fin Bergin, who was diagnosed with stage 3 melanoma in September 2024, agreed the funding would make a huge difference. After two surgeries, the 28-year-old had been paying for the immunotherapy medicine combination of dabrafenib and trametinib, through a combination of personal savings, parental and family support, and donations through a Givealittle page. "This [funded treatment] will... put me at ease, because the biggest stress since my diagnosis has been money related." Stephens said it had been a "10-year progress" to get some of the medicines funded, and cancer specialists had felt "anxious about the gap, particularly when we compare ourselves to similar health systems, notably Australia and the UK". But she added engagement with Pharmac over the past year had left her feeling "much more positive". "We've had really constructive engagement, I would say. So yes, there's been the frustration. But we have really seen improvements and the transparency of the process, and we're pleased for that and we hope that continues." Minister of Health Simeon Brown said National campaigned on boosting Pharmac funding to cover 13 additional cancer treatments and this week's announcement meant that, come 1 June, this would be achieved.
Otago Daily Times
10-05-2025
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
New cancer drugs get Pharmac boost
By Rachel Helyer Donaldson of RNZ Cancer specialists and patients with advanced melanoma have welcomed the news that three potentially life-saving skin cancer medicines are to be funded from 1 June. The state drug-buying agency Pharmac announced on Friday it would fund more medicines for people with late stage skin cancer (stage 3B to stage 4 melanoma). The decision includes widening access to pembrolizumab (branded as Keytruda), and funding dabrafenib, (Tafinlar) and trametinib (Mekinist), for the first time. Pharmac director pharmaceuticals Geraldine MacGibbon said the move would help 285 people by preventing their cancer from spreading or coming back. Melanoma NZ trustee and oncologist Dr Rosalie Stephens said the drugs were "both life-saving and life extending" and the decision was "welcome news". "I think this news will come as a huge relief because New Zealanders with melanoma are well-informed. They know the impact that these medicines are having overseas and stakeholders have been asking for this decision for some time, so psychologically I think there will be a huge degree of relief. "And also psychosocially, more broadly, as it will have a big impact on people's financial status because many New Zealanders have been paying out of pocket for these important medicines." Aucklander Fin Bergin, who was diagnosed with stage 3 melanoma in September 2024, agreed the funding would make a huge difference. After two surgeries, the 28-year-old had been paying for the immunotherapy medicine combination of dabrafenib and trametinib, through a combination of personal savings, parental and family support, and donations through a Givealittle page. "This [funded treatment] will... put me at ease, because the biggest stress since my diagnosis has been money related." Stephens said it had been a "10-year progress" to get some of the medicines funded, and cancer specialists had felt "anxious about the gap, particularly when we compare ourselves to similar health systems, notably Australia and the UK". But she added engagement with Pharmac over the past year had left her feeling "much more positive". "We've had really constructive engagement, I would say. So yes, there's been the frustration. But we have really seen improvements and the transparency of the process, and we're pleased for that and we hope that continues." Minister of Health Simeon Brown said National campaigned on boosting Pharmac funding to cover 13 additional cancer treatments and this week's announcement meant that, come 1 June, this would be achieved.
