Access to medicines and devices
Too many New Zealanders are waiting too long - or going without - treatments and diagnostic tools that are already proven to work.
The problem
When a medicine or device is recommended by international cardiac and respiratory guidelines, the evidence is there - it works.
But in New Zealand, patients can still face long waits, or no pathway at all, to access those treatments.
Pharmac's assessment process was built for medicines. There is no equivalent fit-for-purpose pathway for medical devices, which means patients and clinicians are navigating a system that wasn't designed for what they need.
The result is that treatments proven to improve outcomes overseas are reaching New Zealand too slowly, or not at all.
The solution
The Cardiac and Respiratory Foundation NZ is calling on the Government to:
- Create a fit-for-purpose Pharmac assessment pathway for medical devices
- Fast-track medicines and devices already recommended in international cardiac and respiratory guidelines
- Ensure New Zealand patients can access proven treatments without unnecessary delays
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