MS: Busting the Myths
August 21, 2017
The Pharmaceutical Management Agency of New Zealand, PHARMAC, manages a list of subsidised pharmaceuticals, the Pharmaceutical Schedule, on behalf of the Crown. Pharmaceutical suppliers may apply to PHARMAC to have a medicine listed on the Pharmaceutical Schedule for subsidy. Decisions on listing, subsidy levels and prescribing guidelines and conditions are made by the PHARMAC Board with input from independent medical experts who sit on the Pharmacology and Therapeutics Advisory Committee (PTAC) and its specialist sub-committees, as well as PHARMAC staff. Patients and consumers also have input into PHARMAC’s decision-making processes through the Consumer Advisory Committee. PHARMAC also has functions to promote the responsible use of pharmaceuticals and to manage the purchasing of hospital pharmaceuticals on behalf of District Health Boards.