Category: MIL-OSI

Source: PHARMAC

Pharmac is working to improve health outcomes for all New Zealanders, including those with the highest health needs. This includes Māori, Pacific peoples, disabled people, women, and people living rurally. 

“Health equity ensures everyone has fair access to health care and the opportunity to live well, regardless of who they are or where they come from,” says Director Equity and Engagement, Dr Nicola Ngawati. 

Pharmac’s Equity Policy recognises that different people have different levels of advantage. Pharmac applies an equity lens when making funding decisions. 

Our role under the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022 is to secure for eligible people in need of pharmaceuticals, the best health outcomes that are reasonably achievable from pharmaceutical treatment. 

Some of the medicines we’ve funded recently are making a real difference for these groups. Below are some specific medicines and their reach for high needs health groups (from 1 October 2024 to 31 January 2026). 

Palivizumab (RSV prevention)

Protects premature and high-risk infants from severe RSV illness. Māori and Pacific babies are more likely to need this treatment. Recipients by health group: 

• Māori – 34.3%
• Pacific– 11.3%
• Female – 44.6%
• Rural – 15.7%

Triple inhaler (Budesonide + Glycopyrronium + Eformoterol)

Helps manage COPD, which impacts Māori up to 20 years earlier and causes death at five times the rate of non-Māori. Funded from 1 January 2025. Recipients by health group: 

• Māori – 28.4%
• Pacific – 4.5%
• Women – 57.3%
• Rural – 24.1%

Insulin (Ryzodeg)

Diabetes prevalence among Māori and Pacific people is about three times higher than other population groups. Funded from May 2025. Recipients by health group: 

• Māori – 24.1%
• Pacific – 19.3%
• Women – 48.8%
• Rural – 17.9%

Empagliflozen

This medicine helps reduce cardiovascular hospitalisation, slow kidney decline, and improve glycaemic control. Recipients by health group: 

• Māori – 21.8%
• Pacific – 7.6%
• Women – 33.8%
• Rural – 25.7%

Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF)

From 1 December 2025, Pharmac began funding silver diamine fluoride (SDF) for the treatment and prevention of tooth decay. Dental cavities disproportionately affect Māori, Pacific peoples and people in areas of higher depravation. 

Poor oral health can impact daily life and cause pain and embarrassment. Although SDF is in the early days of funding, its use is expected to reduce the need for hospital‑based dental treatment, remove cost barriers and improve wellbeing.

“We’re pleased that these statistics indicate our funded medicines are reaching those who need them most. We’ll continue to focus on increasing access to key medicines for these groups,” says Dr Ngawati.

“This work is extremely important. By reducing avoidable differences in health outcomes – we create a healthier New Zealand for everyone.”

Note: All figures are from the Pharmaceutical Collection dataset(external link) (as extracted and analysed by Pharmac).

Source: PHARMAC

With February marking one year since publication of the Consumer Engagement Workshop Report, it’s a good time to reflect on the positive progress being made to transform Pharmac’s relationship with stakeholders through the Reset Programme.

The report captured the feedback of consumers who had earlier shared their experiences engaging with Pharmac. A clear theme was the need for the organisation to completely reset its approach to consumer and patient engagement to rebuild trust and credibility.

Recommendations from the report also led to establishment of the Consumer and Patient Working Group, chaired by Dr Malcolm Mulholland.

“We’re extremely grateful to have this group providing their insights to help us improve the way we engage with consumers and to make that sure we reflect their needs and perspectives when delivering our work,” says Pharmac Chief Executive, Natalie McMurtry. “This is also supported by the work being done by the existing statutory Consumer Advisory Committee.”

Some of the key milestones achieved by the Reset Programme and its partners to date include:

• Establishment of the Consumer and Patient Working Group to support the design and delivery of the 12-month Reset Programme
• Building a centralised consumer database to support improved engagement
• Creation of a dedicated Consumer Relations Team to strengthen Pharmac’s relationships with consumer and patient groups
• Feedback from the Consumer and Patient Working Group incorporated into budget information to better demonstrate patient impact
• Ongoing improvements to the medicines funding application process to ensure a better experience for consumers.
• Multiple workshops held with the Consumer and Patient Working Group to shape the future 4-year improvement workplan.

Looking ahead, a key focus for the Consumer and Patient Working Group and the Reset Programme is helping to create a Consumer Engagement Framework.

This framework will explain when and how we ask for consumer feedback, how we use people’s insights in our decision-making, and how we intend keep people updated on progress. It’s about making sure consumer voices are included in a consistent, reliable way – both in our future improvement work and in our everyday processes.

The framework will also help ensure a smooth transition once the Reset Programme and the Consumer and Patient Working Group finish on 30 June this year, ensuring that consumer perspectives continue to shape our work in a strong and practical way.

Source: PHARMAC

With high obesity rates in New Zealand and new medicines entering the market, public interest in weight‑loss treatments is understandably strong. 

In June 2025 Medsafe approved semaglutide (Wegovy) for use in New Zealand for weight loss. Medsafe approves medicines for use in New Zealand. They check that these products meet our standards for safety and quality, and that they work as well as we expect them to.  

Pharmac has received three applications to fund semaglutide(external link) for the following conditions: 

• weight management for people with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m² or more with at least one weight-related health condition
• insufficiently controlled type 2 diabetes  
• cardiovascular disease with a body mass index (BMI) of 27 kg/m² or more.

 To help us assess these medicines, a new Obesity Treatments Advisory Group (OTAG) was established and met for the first time in December last year. The group includes a range of clinical expertise and provides objective advice on new obesity treatments and future opportunities. 

 Pharmac’s Manager Expert Advisory, Caroline De Luca, says this is the first step in gathering advice to inform this complicated decision that could affect many New Zealanders lives.

 “When we make funding decisions, we need input from clinical experts in New Zealand so we can understand how the evidence relates in a local context.”

 The current members of the group are:

• Dr Liza Lack – Clinical Director, National Hauora Coalition – Waikato (Chair – PTAC Member)
• Dr Bruce King (Chair) – Specialist Internal Medicine and Nephrology (PTAC Member)
• Dr Wing Cheuk Chan – Public Health Physician
• Dr Jo McClintock – Clinical Psychologist
• Dr Rawiri McKree Jansen – General Practitioner
• Prof Rinki Murphy – Specialist Diabetes Physician
• Dr James Shand – Endocrinologist
• Dr Samuel Whittaker – General Practitioner 

 OTAG reviewed the application to fund semaglutide for weight loss in December 2025. The group’s provisional recommendation [PDF](external link) is that Pharmac fund it for chronic weight management in people with a high body mass index (BMI) and associated comorbidities, with a high priority. The full record of the meeting is expected to be available by March.

A recommendation from OTAG is not a guarantee that Pharmac will fund a medicine. It is a vital step in the process for considering this application, but it is not the only consideration.

The OTAG advice will contribute to Pharmac’s assessment of the role of these medicines in New Zealand and consider the impact on individuals, whānau, caregivers, and the wider health system. We will continue to seek input from the clinical and patient communities.

More about our advisory groups

Source: PHARMAC

A multiproduct agreement, which took effect on 1 December last year, is delivering significant benefits for patients and the health system – freeing up thousands of infusion hours and helping services run more efficiently. 

Under the agreement Pharmac is funding five treatments for multiple sclerosis, breast cancer, lung cancer and serious eye conditions. 

Vice President of Multiple Sclerosis New Zealand, Graham Walker, says the new treatments are a ‘game changer’. 

“I got a text the other day from a friend in Christchurch who said his treatment had taken an hour, starting from his arrival at the hospital to catching the bus home. He thought it was marvellous.” 

“There’s also a lot of people that have trouble getting treatment simply because there’s no room at the infusion centre. Now six or seven people can be treated in the time it took to treat one. That’s huge!” 

The agreement with pharmaceutical supplier Roche includes two new treatments, more convenient versions of existing medicines, and continued access to an already funded treatment 

“We were able to fund new medicines through this agreement, but what I’m most pleased about is the impact the new and improved existing treatments will have on people’s lives,” says Pharmaceutical Director, Adrienne Martin. 

“The new injectable treatments can be completed in 15 minutes compared to 3-5 hours for intravenous infusions. 

The reduction in infusion times is expected to save the health system $11 million over five years. It will also ease pressure on hospital services and improve access for patients who previously faced long wait times. 

Read Decision to fund treatments for multiple sclerosis, eye conditions, breast cancer and lung cancer for more details.

Source: New Zealand Police

State Highway One has been reduced to one northbound lane following a crash earlier this morning.

Police were alerted to the crash near the Beaver Road off ramp between a car and a truck at 7.12am.

One person has suffered moderate injuries.

Police are working to clear the blocked lane however advise motorists to expect delays.

ENDS.

Amanda Wieneke/NZ Police

Source: New Zealand Police

One person has died after a serious crash in Taupō overnight.

Police were called to a single vehicle crash on State Highway 5 near Rangitaiki School Road at around 2.10am.

Sadly upon arrival, one person was located deceased.

Two others received minor injuries.

The road is closed while the Serious Crash Unit conducted a scene examination.

Police continue to make enquiries into the circumstances of the crash.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Police

Please attribute to Senior Sergeant Stephen McDaniel:

One person has died following a water-related incident in the Waimakariri River today.

The incident was reported to emergency services around 4.30pm.

Despite the efforts of emergency services, the person died at the scene.

The death will be referred to the Coroner.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Police

Teamwork between the Police Maritime Unit and Westpac Rescue Helicopter successfully rescued a diver and boaties in windy and choppy waters off the Wellington South Coast earlier this week.

Around 4pm on Thursday 5 March, the Wellington Police Maritime Unit responded to a 111-emergency call to Police from two people on board a 5.4m runabout on Wellington’s South Coast.

The boaties were experiencing gale force winds up to 88km/h, it was getting rougher with up to 2m waves as they were being blown out to sea.

The boaties also reported that the boat owner and skipper who had been on the trip with them had been scuba diving closer to shore and was still in the water.

With the escalating situation and risk to the boaties and diver’s lives, Police called on emergency support from Life Flight’s Westpac Rescue Helicopter and Wellington’s Volunteer Coastguard to assist in rescue efforts.

Around 4.30pm, the Police Launch vessel, Lady Elizabeth IV, located the small runabout about 6km off Wellington’s South Coast.

The missing skipper/scuba diver was the only one of the three of them who knew how to drive the boat properly. The two boaties left onboard were unable to drive the boat to safety.

Crew on the Police Launch were able to use their tender (inflatable boat) to safely put a crew member onto the runabout. This was challenging in the rough conditions but necessary in the circumstances.

Launch Crew member Constable Stephanie Cox was able to take control and drove the runabout back to Owhiro Bay boat ramp on Wellington’s South Coast.

Around 5.30pm after the initial 111 call to Police, the Westpac Rescue helicopter located the missing diver on a remote shore waving out to them. The diver had surfaced after his dive, realised his boat had gone and he then managed to swim to shore on the south coast. The diver was flown back to the Life Flight base at Wellington Airport.

Both boaties and the diver were unharmed but shaken after the experience.

Senior Launch Master Constable Nicko McGregor says the incident highlights the importance of preparation before going out on the water.

“These two men can consider themselves lucky. These difficult weather conditions were no place for a small runabout to be.”

Constable McGregor says when heading out on the water, make sure you:

• Check the weather, sometimes the wind and waves can couple to make an unsafe day on the water – especially if you’re not a confident and experienced boatie
• Carry proper safety equipment
• Have at least two forms of communication, and ensure they are put in a waterproof case or pouch
• Everyone on board understands basic emergency procedures.

“This is a reminder of how quickly situations at sea can change. Good preparation and formal training make a real difference when things don’t go to plan on the water,” says Constable McGregor.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Police

One person has died after the earlier crash on SH1, just north of Tūrangi, near Rawhira Road.

The road remains closed and diversions are in place around the western side of Lake Taupō.

Motorists should continue to avoid the area.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Police

State Highway 1 is closed just north of Tūrangi following a crash.

The two-vehicle crash near Rawhira Road was reported just after 1:10pm.

Initial indications are that there are serious injuries.

Motorists are advised to avoid the area and expect delays.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre