1News Report – Medsafe Approves 10 Minute Ocrevus Injection
Watch Graham Walker, person with MS, President of MS Taranaki and Co-Vice President of MSNZ discuss the life-changing news that Medsafe has approved the 10 minute Ocrevus injection, accompanied with comments from Amanda Rose, MSNZ National Manager on 1News, 29th April 2025. Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YQitPAsR5A We encourage those with lived experience to provide their stories […]
Ocrelizumab Subcut Receives Medsafe Registration as Pressure Mounts to Fund Wider Range of MS Treatment Options
Photo by Kristine Wook, Unsplash. Medsafe have approved the registration of Ocrevus ® Subcutaneous (SC) (ocrelizumab and hyaluronidase) for the treatment of adult patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (RMS) and primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS). The announcement on 24th April is welcomed by Multiple Sclerosis New Zealand. “The registration of Ocrevus SC is […]
MSNZ President Calls for Pharmac to Fund 4 New Drugs on TVNZ Breakfast
Watch MSNZ President, Neil Woodhams, on TVNZ Breakfast today where he calls for Pharmac to fund 4 new drugs for MS treatment. Neil Woodhams attended this interview ahead of us appearing at Parliament later this morning, with the Bangers to Bluff Car Rally. After meeting on the steps of Parliament to raise awareness of the event […]
Press Release: Pharmac Funding Stalemate for “Life-Changing” Multiple Sclerosis Drugs
There are calls for Pharmac to “quit stalling” and fund four affordable treatments to significantly improve quality of life for patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in New Zealand – treatments which would also significantly reduce demand on New Zealand’s stretched health system. Multiple Sclerosis New Zealand (MSNZ) is drawing attention to its fight to have […]
Our Focus and What’s Next?
Over the last decade, we have seen the needs of people with MS are changing. This is largely due to the availability of higher efficacy DMTs in NZ, and ever-advancing research is also telling us even more about the importance of practical lifestyle modifications to improve health outcomes. As a result, people are continuing to […]
When no news is not good news: Shingrix Vaccination
Recently, Multiple Sclerosis New Zealand (MSNZ) wrote to Pharmac to express our immense disappointment with their Health Technologies Assessment (HTA) process, the treatment funding assessment process, and the impact this is having on the MS community. The varicella zoster virus, more commonly known as Shingles, is a viral infection which causes a painful rash and […]
Pharmac Consultation to Gather Comprehensive List of Medical Devices in NZ Hospitals
Pharmac is drafting a comprehensive list of hospital medical devices currently used by Health New Zealand hospitals. They are consulting to make sure this comprehensive list is accurate and complete with the aim of ensuring all hospitals in New Zealand have access to the same medical devices, at the same price and under the same […]
Media Release: New report calls for major change to Pharmac’s funding model
Pharmac’s decision-making process for funding drugs in Aotearoa New Zealand is in need of a major overhaul – according to a new independent report. The Milne Report, commissioned by Multiple Sclerosis New Zealand (MSNZ), says its time Pharmac based its funding decisions not just on the cost of a drug or medical device, but on […]
Are you on an Infusion Treatment?
At MSNZ we would like to understand more about patient experiences with infusion treatments. The first line Disease Modifying Treatment (DMT) options we have been successful in advocating for in NZ are considered some of the best in the world. Due to the availability of these treatments and adopting healthy lifestyle recommendations, people are reportedly […]
The Neurological Alliance: Our Strength is in the Numbers
Multiple Sclerosis NZ is a proud member of the Neurological Alliance along with 19 other allied organisations. The Neurological Alliance of New Zealand (the Alliance) was established in 1999 to provide a forum for organisations representing a neurological disease to: Advocate for the best outcomes for those living with neurological conditions in New Zealand through […]