More than 30,000 New Zealanders with type 2 diabetes will get easier access to four blood sugar medicines from September 1, after Pharmac widened its funding criteria.
The medicines — empagliflozin, empagliflozin with metformin, liraglutide and dulaglutide — will now be funded for anyone with type 2 diabetes whose blood sugar remains high despite treatment with other funded medicines. Previously, access depended on whether a patient had cardiovascular or renal disease, was likely to have a heart event, or met ethnicity criteria. All of that goes.
Associate Health Minister David Seymour welcomed the decision. "Pharmac has made the decision to fund these medicines for everybody who needs them, no matter their ethnicity. The decision is expected to benefit more than 30,000 patients over the next five years," Seymour said.
The medicines lower blood sugar and reduce the risk of heart and kidney complications. Seymour said the change means high-risk patients can get them earlier. "Now more people with type 2 diabetes who are at high risk of heart or kidney complications can receive these medicines earlier."
People already eligible under the old criteria but not currently using the medicines will remain eligible — a point Pharmac heard clearly during consultation. "Pharmac received significant feedback on its proposal from people living with type 2 diabetes, their families, health professionals, community organisations and advocacy groups," Seymour said.
The cost side is worth noting too. Because Pharmac expanded access beyond what it originally proposed, it was buying in larger volume — which gave it leverage to negotiate a new supplier agreement. "This agreement supports wider access while minimising the impact on Pharmac's budget," Seymour said.
"Pharmac has a strong track record of getting value for money out of the health budget. This is another example of that."
The broader argument Seymour made is a familiar one from this government, but the numbers here give it some weight. "When people can access their medicines easily, they stay healthier for longer. It also reduces pressure on other parts of the health system."
The new funding criteria take effect September 1.