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How does the operation of PHARMAC's 'Community Exceptional ...

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A Selection <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Media Stories<br />

Case 1: “Patient’s problem worse on new pills” (New Plymouth Daily News<br />

20/11/98)<br />

Brian Coombe and Hawera Rae Ma<strong>the</strong>ws (patients) complained that Rae’s<br />

symptoms related to her being switched from an unfunded antihypertensive<br />

medication to a funded antihypertensive medication. PHARMAC had<br />

transferred <strong>the</strong> subsidy from one drug to ano<strong>the</strong>r and consequently Rae’s<br />

doctor put her on <strong>the</strong> newly funded medication. She said that <strong>the</strong> current<br />

symptoms she was suffering related to <strong>the</strong> change in medication.<br />

The General Manager <strong>of</strong> PHARMAC, Wayne McNee had received advice that<br />

Rae’s symptoms were not related to <strong>the</strong> change in medications and said that<br />

she could apply for Community <strong>Exceptional</strong> Circumstances subsidy if she could<br />

not tolerate <strong>the</strong> newly funded drug.<br />

The report concentrated on <strong>the</strong> concern that <strong>the</strong> preferences <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> patient were<br />

not considered a factor in <strong>the</strong> subsidising decisions. McNee reported that many<br />

o<strong>the</strong>r people in New Zealand were taking <strong>the</strong> subsidised drug without complaint.<br />

Rae was able to draw a response from PHARMAC but she was unable to effect<br />

<strong>the</strong> changes in policy and have PHARMAC’s decision overturned in her case.<br />

Case 2: “Persistent seizures curtail life” (Waikato Times 18/10/04)<br />

Patient Mike Jurisich requested that PHARMAC pay for an expensive epilepsy<br />

drug which was not on <strong>the</strong> subsidised Community Pharmaceutical Schedule.<br />

Verity Colgrave, a case worker from Epilepsy New Zealand, stated in <strong>the</strong><br />

newspaper report that without <strong>the</strong> medication Mike would have to cease work<br />

and go onto a welfare benefit. She stated that <strong>the</strong> costs <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> patient on a<br />

sickness benefit should be considered in PHARMAC’s cost-utility analysis.<br />

Mike’s neurologist, Dr. Paul Timmings expressed his frustration at PHARMAC’s<br />

Community <strong>Exceptional</strong> Circumstances decision making, saying that in his<br />

experience it was exceptionally difficult to get a Community <strong>Exceptional</strong><br />

Circumstances claim approved by PHARMAC.<br />

There was no evidence produced in <strong>the</strong> story that <strong>the</strong> drug recommended by<br />

<strong>the</strong> doctor was any better than <strong>the</strong> subsidised drug. The media report referred<br />

145

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