Prescribing rights under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 and Medicines (Standing Order) Regulations 2002

16/05/2012

The Guild is requesting feedback from members on a Ministry of Health consultation on two issues - prescribing rights under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 and Medicines (Standing Order) Regulations 2002.
Ministry of Health Consultation Prescribing rights under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 and Medicines Standing Order Regulations 2002 (pdf, 4 MB)

Increase of the pharmacy co-payment expected in current economic climate

16/05/2012

The Guild believes that today’s increase of the co-payment for prescription items from $3 to $5 was expected because the current funding was unsustainable.   
co payment media release (pdf, 71 KB)

Proposal to widen access to prasugrel

09/05/2012

The Guild supports the proposal to amend the Special Authority criteria applying to prasugrel 5mg and 10mg tablets, which will widen patient access to prasugrel by including those patients who have experienced cardiac stent thrombosis while on clopidogrel.
2012 05 07 Feedback on PHARMAC proposal to widen access to prasugrel (pdf, 521 KB)

Proposal to list buprenorphine with naloxone (Suboxone)

09/05/2012

The Guild supports the proposal to list buprenorphine with naloxone (Suboxone) in Section B of the Pharmaceutical Schedule for detoxification and maintenance treatment in opioid dependent patients. We recommend that PHARMAC give due consideration to the appropriateness of the proposed pack size and expiry date prior to the implementation of the changes.
2012 05 07 Feedback on PHARMAC proposal to list buprenorphine with naloxone Suboxone (pdf, 861 KB)

Proposal to amend the funding access criteria for some nutritional products (special foods)

09/05/2012

The Guild supports the various components of the proposal. Funding should be available for the entire range of patient ages for which the nutritional products have been formulated. The Guild is in favour of proposals that result in expenditure of the community pharmaceutical budget that has been assessed as cost effective and improves patients’ access to fully funded therapies.
2012 05 08 Feedback on PHARMAC proposal to amend the funding access criteria for some nutritional products special foods (pdf, 731 KB)

Proposed changes to the Pharmaceutical Schedule Rules relating to dispensing frequency

30/04/2012

The Guild is receptive to the proposed changes, providing that they enhance the functioning of the Pharmacy Services Agreement.
2012 04 20 Feedback on proposed changes to the Pharmaceutical Schedule Rules relating to dispensing frequency (pdf, 2.7 MB)

Additional proposals relating to dispensing frequency (Close Control) Rule & Access Exemption Rule

30/04/2012

At this stage, the Guild is unable to support proposal one as it would fail to adequately compensate community pharmacy, but agrees with the flexible and variable dispensing periods contained within proposal two.
2012 04 26 Feedback on additional proposals relating to dispensing frequency close control rule access exemption rule (pdf, 2.5 MB)

Review of dispensing frequency for monthly medicines

30/04/2012

The Guild supports the Review, on the assumption that the changes will only come into force when the proposed Pharmacy Services Agreement is implemented.
2012 04 26 Feedback on PHARMAC Review of Dispensing Frequency for Monthly Medicines (pdf, 2 MB)

Proposal to list Accu-Chek Ketur-Test

30/04/2012

The Guild supports the proposal and PHARMAC’s attempts to obtain greater value for money from the community pharmaceuticals budget.
2012 04 27 Feedback on PHARMAC proposal to list Accu Chek Ketur Test (pdf, 510 KB)

Proposed new service for community pharmacy

30/04/2012

The Guild’s submission on the proposed new service for community pharmacy contains three parts: the Guild’s issues lists, responses to the DHB questions, and unedited submissions from our members.
2012 04 27 Response to DHBs proposed new service for community pharmacy (pdf, 833 KB)