Pharmac
Mediawatch Midweek 29 May 2019
Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Lately. Jeremy Rose talks to Emile Donovan about the media's lack of interest in how New Zealand votes at the UN; a former police inspector, MP and honorary consul's… Video, Audio
Pharmac's secret list
Desperate patients are being left in the dark as to when Pharmac will fund medicines. Guyon Espiner asks why the drug-buying agency operates with such secrecy. Video
Pharmac: The NZ Buyer's Club
Guyon Espiner reveals how lung cancer patients are buying cut-price drugs from India, as other Kiwis fundraise, petition and apply for clinical trials to access medications Pharmac won't fund.
Pharmac switches epilepsy drug against Medsafe advice
Pharmac is making 10,000 people with epilepsy change medication, despite Medsafe's opposition the move. Guyon Espiner asks why it carries out up to 60 drug switches a year.
NZ diabetes drugs 'third world' - doctor
An endocrinologist says New Zealand's type 2 diabetes drugs are 'third world'. Guyon Espiner asks why Pharmac won't fund the medicines experts want.
Pharmac allowing people to die – cancer patient
Breast cancer patient Terre Maize has spearheaded the push for Pharmac to fund life-extending drugs. She told Alex Perrottet the system is allowing people to die, and the whole funding body needs a… Video, Audio
Guyon Espiner investigates Pharmac
Guyon Espiner has just stepped down from his role as co-host of RNZ's Morning Report to join the organisation's In-Depth team. His first series for in-Depth is Guyon Espiner investigates Pharmac which… Audio
Dr Hilary Chung - Living with metastatic breast cancer
Dr Hilary Chung is an academic specialising in Asian studies and comparative literature at the University of Auckland, and the founding director of the University's popular Global Studies Programme… Audio
The double-edged sword of the Pharmac lottery
Pharmac attracts a lot of flak for what it doesn't fund in the way of drugs - but it's also the envy of the world for its ability to negotiate down prices. Do we have the balance right? Audio
Cancer advocate's death presses need for Pharmac action, patients say
A long-time advocate for breast cancer patients has died, as Pharmac's drug advisory panel has again delayed its decision on funding life-prolonging cancer treatments. Audio
Pharmac delays decision on funding life-prolonging drugs
A long-time advocate for breast cancer patients has died, as Pharmac's drug advisory panel again delays its decision on funding life-prolonging cancer treatments Kadcyla and Ibrance. Alex Perrottet… Audio
Cancer sufferers and families deliver petitions to Parliament
People desperately seeking cancer treatment which could extend their lives by years, took their battle to increase Pharmac spending to Parliament today. Audio
New treatments funded for people with haemophilia
People with haemophilia will soon have access to new therapies funded by Pharmac which will drastically change the way the bleeding disorders are treated. The long-acting treatments being funded from… Audio
Health select committee rejects pleas by cancer patients for inquiry
Bitterly disappointed breast cancer patients have accused the government of interfering in the work of a select committee. Audio
Pharmac leaving cancer patients to die – drug agents
Drug giants have told Parliament's health select committee that drug-buyer Pharmac is leaving terminally ill cancer patients to die rather than forking out for the latest drugs. Audio
David Clark on Pharmac, drugs and a life’s worth
Checkpoint presenter Lisa Owen interviews Health Minister David Clark on Pharmac's funding model, why life-prolonging drugs aren't being funded, and whether it's high time for an independent review… Video, Audio
Ma'a Nonu eyes return to All Blacks
Back in New Zealand for his third stint with the Blues, Ma'a Nonu has made it clear returning to the All Blacks is on his wish-list, as is finally lifting the Super Rugby trophy. Video, Audio
Terminally ill breast cancer patients plea: Fund drugs or we die
New drugs have extended terminally ill breast cancer patients' lives by months and years. And while they're available overseas, they're not funded here, meaning NZ patients are dying far quicker than… Video, Audio
Hep C drug to help thousands, but disease still stigmatised - advocates
From next month thousands of New Zealanders living under the shadow of the deadly Hepatitis C virus will finally be able to get lifesaving treatment.
Eye specialist welcomes Pharmac funding new drug
An eye specialist says a new drug that is saving the eyesight of patients who might otherwise go blind is a game-changer. The drug, Eylea, treats age-related macular degeneration and it's been funded… Audio