Podcasts about Pharmac

Experts say a proposal for Pharmac to widen access to two medicines for advanced melanoma will improve outcomes. Oncologist Dr Gareth Rivalland spoke to Corin Dann.

This morning Nicola Willis and Tangi Utikere joined us for our weekly political panel. We also heard from a mother in rural Hawke's Bay who says proposed cuts to school bus services could have negative economic impacts on the region. A pharmacist spoke to us about another hacked medical database and what information may have been accessed, while Pharmac is widening access to two medications used to treat advanced melanoma. If you are considering a lifestyle change, Antarctica New Zealand has 40 jobs available on the ice, and we spoke to someone who knows what it is like to work on the continent.

New treatment options for melanoma are being described as the global gold standard. Pharmac's proposing to increase access to nivolumab and ipilimumab for treating stage 3b and 4 melanoma, from May. Pre-surgery use of the immunotherapy drugs can lower the chance of cancer returning. Medical oncologist Dr Gareth Rivalland told Ryan Bridge it's state of the art treatment. He says it's the best combination and will kill off the cancer in 60% of people. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Wednesday the 25th of Feburary 2025, nurses at aged care facilities are going back to paper-based prescriptions after Medimaps data breach, Former Health NZ Chair shares his concerns. Christchurch bar owners say Anzac Day liquor laws will ‘shut the city down' on the new stadium's opening night, Jeremy Stevens Hospitality NZ Canterbury Branch President tells Ryan how much it'll impact bars. Pharmac's looking at funding two new Melanoma drugs, medical oncologist and Melanoma specialist Dr Gareth Rivalland tells Ryan how big of a difference the drugs would make. UK/ Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on trade minister Chris Bryant calling Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor as a "rude, arrogant and entitled man" and a baby boy has become the first child in the UK to be born using a womb transplanted from a dead donor. Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Health Minister won't say if the government has met its promise to blood cancer patients in New Zealand - that is that they have not been forgotten. Pharmac has proposed to fund two new combination medicines to treat a type of blood cancer - chronic lymphocytic leukaemia or CLL. The drugs can help those with CLL achieve longer lasting remission and avoid the need for traditional chemotherapy. Patients and advocates are celebrating, but Blood Cancer NZ and the Ministers acknowledge more work needs to be done. Lillian Hanly reports.

Pharmac is proposing funding two new leukaemia medications in pill form from May. It could relieve pressure for hospitals. It could also apply to people currently paying for it, who'd receive funding for the treatment in a private hospital - subject to meeting criteria. Associate Health Minister David Seymour says Pharmac will sign off on this - and it's likely this will move forward. "There'll be two new blood cancer medicines and they'll help an estimated 80-90 people every five years, with what is quite a rare, but brutal disorder." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two new blood cancer medications could soon be available to patients as pills, with one accessible through private clinics. Pharmac will consider funding treatments for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, which could be available from May 1st. They can be taken in pill form and take away the need for chemotherapy. Blood Cancer NZ CEO Tim Edmonds told Ryan Bridge the medications take a targeted approach to first-line treatment, which means they'll be able to access targeted therapy instead of chemotherapy once diagnosed. He says instead of visiting the hospital up to 20 times in six months, they can take an oral tablet every day from home and actually get better outcomes. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday the 19th of Feburary 2025, RBNZ Governor Anna Breman held the OCR at 2.25%, Independent Economist Cameron Bagrie shares his thoughts. Pharmac is moving closer to backing two new drugs for people living with chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, Blood Cancer NZ CEO Tim Edmonds tells Ryan why funding for the drugs is important. Shane Jones has called for jail sentences for owners of roaming animals, Dog zen owner and pet behaviour expert Mark Vette shares his thoughts. Plus, US Correspondent has the latest on peace talks in Geneva between Russia and Ukraine and Mark Zuckerberg appearing in court for a landmark trial on youth social media addiction. Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A pediatric specialist is urging Aotearoa's drug agency to fund weight loss drugs for teenagers. A Pharmac advisory panel has provisionally recommended funding Wegovy for chronic weight management in people with high BMI's and associated conditions. Professor of paediatric endocrinology at the Liggins Institute, Wayne Cutfield spoke to Lisa Owen.

With a Pharmac advisory panel provisionally recommending funding weight loss drug Wegovy, we spoke with Auckland University Professor of Global Health and Nutrition Boyd Swinburn. Plus, we asked Labour leader Chris Hipkins what he does and doesn't like about the proposed free trade agreement with India. The opposition is calling for more transparency over New Zealand's talks with the United States about the supply of rare and critical minerals, we spoke with Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick. Lucy Naylor from the Auckland Primary Principals Association talked us through the changes to school reports, and major insurance company AA has confirmed it isn't offering new home insurance policies in Woodend; we spoke with Amanda Newson.

A Pharmac advisory panel has provisionally recommended funding weight loss drug Wegovy as a high priority for some people. Auckland University Professor of Global Health and Nutrition Boyd Swinburn spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss

From celery-juice cleanses to infomercial ab-busting gadgets, society has always been on a diet. It’s a global, multi-billion-dollar powerhouse industry. The latest trend that you would have heard about are GLP1s, or weight-loss injections. Pharmac is seeking advice on whether they should be funded for certain people. Australia’s committed to it for certain patients, taking the cost down to about $29 per script. A drug like Wegovy for instance, costs about $460 per script in New Zealand. But, are they really beneficial? Or, is it just the next get skinny quick ploy? Today on The Front Page, obesity specialist, Dr Gerard McQuinlan is with us to explore whether these drugs should be funded, or is diet and exercise really the only answer? Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network. Host: Chelsea DanielsEditor/Producer: Richard MartinProducer: Jane YeeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Families of young children with cystic fibrosis are celebrating a Pharmac proposal to widen access to the drug Trikafta, which is out for consultation. It's been funded for children over 6 since 2023, but the agency's now proposing extending it to under-sixes. Liam Rooney's child has cystic fibrosis and he says his family was looking for other ways to get it. "I'd already spoken to my boss over in Australia about the potential for us to move over if things got worse." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 22 January, 2026, we hear from a witness to the landslide at a Mt Maunganui campsite. A father tells us what Pharmac funding for a cystic fibrosis drug will mean for his son. Brad Olsen from Infometrics looks at whether the worst of the brain drain has passed. And on The Huddle, Clare de Lore and Mark Sainsbury have a laugh about Donald Trump confusing Greenland with Iceland. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, journalist Clare de Lore and broadcaster Mark Sainsbury joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day -and more! Families of young children with cystic fibrosis are celebrating a Pharmac proposal to widen access to the drug Trikafta, which is out for consultation. How good is this? Donald Trump has laid the groundwork or a future deal involving Greenland and dropped proposed tariffs on NATO countries. What do we make of this? Do we see Trump getting his way here? A new Taxpayers' Union-Curia poll dropped - and it indicates the current coalition Government could get re-elected. NZ First took a leap to 11.9 percent, what can we take from this? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I was at the movies recently and the first three ads that came up in the shorts beforehand were pretty interesting. We had a fast food ad... I think it was KFC... some new chicken thing you can eat, then we had a Burger Fuel ad, and for dessert, to top things off, we had a Wegovy ad. There was a woman climbing stairs, out of breath, and a chubby guy struggling to get into a wetsuit. The message was simple: take this drug and get you life back. If you look at the fattest countries in the world, we're a podium finish. We're the third biggest developed country on earth. The Americans are, unsurprisingly, ahead of us. If you go to the movies, you see cause and affect in the space of three minutes of ads. Too much processed food + lack of exercise = obesity. Divided now by Wegovy, of course. Now the debate is - who should pay. I heard an argument yesterday which was interesting, because you hear about people putting all the weight back on once the drugs wear off. If the state pays for the drugs, the argument goes that you'd be less likely to keep the weight off because you're not as financially invested in the outcome as you would be if you paid out of your own pocket. Is it more effective if paid for by an individual? I don't know the answer to that question, but the problem we have in New Zealand - which they don't have so much in America, is a public health system - where the costs of being overweight, heart disease, diabetes etc. is worn by all of us. The indirect costs are between $7 billion and $9 billion per year. The cost of handing out free Wegovy could be as high as $3 billion a year. Pharmac's budget is $1.7 billion a year. So the question for Pharmac is simple - do the costs outweigh the benefits? And if you fund the drug, will people stay on it and actually keep the weight off? In the USA, RFK's just flipped the food pyramid and put protein at the top. There's an 'eat real food' campaign kicking off. Given the amount of fast food and Wegovy ads we're being bombarded with, would it not be sensible to also have some ads telling people about all the fresh NZ meat, dairy and veges they should be eating everyday? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Matt Heath and Tyler Adams Afternoons Full Show Podcast for the 20th of January 2026, Pharmac is investigating taxpayer funding for weight loss drugs - we look at the pros and cons. Then rewards schemes - you can keep your cards and apps, Matt is over them! Get the Matt Heath and Tyler Adams Afternoons Podcast every weekday afternoon on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The personal responsibility brigade will be going ape over Pharmac looking into funding weight loss drugs. This wouldn't be for anyone wanting to lose a few kilos here and there. This would be for people who are obese and at risk of serious health complications. Around 200 potentially serious health complications, actually. Such as Type 2 Diabetes. I think it's a no-brainer. Because we have the third-highest adult obesity rate in the OECD, which is a problem for all of us. Even those of us with the metabolism of a racehorse. Because, with the health complications that come with obesity, we all end up paying. Whether it be in a financial sense as taxpayers or as users of the health system seeing waiting times blow out because of the demand for treatment. Because of the impact of obesity on the health system. The fact that Pharmac is even considering giving these weight loss drugs the time of day is brilliant. It now needs to ignore the naysayers and get on with it. And there will be naysayers. The people in the personal responsibility brigade who look at every overweight person and think they've got no control.You know: “They're all just a bunch of lardies who eat KFC every day. And why the hell should us taxpayers pay for that lot to get a magic potion because they can't say no. Because they've got no self-control. Haven't they heard of personal responsibility?” Blah blah blah. The funny thing is, you don't hear this lot ripping-into people with high blood pressure. Or people with heart disease. Or even people with cancer. You don't hear the personal responsibility crew saying those people shouldn't be on Pharmac's funding list. Because, if you apply the logic they apply to obese people, the exact same thing could be said. That someone who smokes, for example, shouldn't get their blood pressure pills funded by the taxpayer or someone who smokes and gets cancer shouldn't get medications that might save or extend their life. Obesity is a disease just like any other disease. A disease people have because of genetics or hormonal issues or psychological issues. It's way more complicated than just how much food someone eats.Which is why we need to accept that, if these drugs are a genuine option for people who have no way of losing significant amounts of weight and no other way of avoiding serious conditions like Type 2 Diabetes, then why wouldn't we fund weight loss drugs for them? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government is working on stopping busloads of people stripping rockpools of sea life in north Auckland; Pharmac is seeking clinical advice on whether the weight loss medication Wegovy should receive government funding. Donald Trump is doubling down on his efforts to acquire Greenland, threatening to slap tariffs on European allies standing in his way. The Black Caps have won the final ODI against India to take the series 2-1. The Government is considering lowering its housing intensification targets in Auckland after pushback from critics.

Pharmac is seeking clinical advice on whether the weight loss medication Wegovy should receive government funding. Professor of Paediatric Endocrinology at the University of Auckland, Wayne Cutfield spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

Pharmac is seeking clinical advice on whether the weight loss medication Wegovy should receive government funding. Professor of Paediatric Endocrinology at the University of Auckland, Wayne Cutfield spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

Pharmac is seeking clinical advice on whether weight loss medication should be funded in New Zealand. One in three people over the age of 15 are classified as obese and one in eight children aged between two and 14. Pharmac received two applications to fund Wegovy or semaglutide - a GLP-1 receptor agonist for weight loss. Auckland University Professor of Molecular Medicine Peter Shepherd told Andrew Dickens despite it being a short-term fix, it's like any other medicine. He says it's the same as heart disease or blood pressure medication - as soon as you go off them, they lose their effect as well.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast Monday the 19th of January 2025, Christopher Luxon is set to deliver his State of the Nation speech this afternoon, Auckland Business Chamber CEO Simon Bridges tells Andrew what businesses want to come out of it. Andrew Alderson has the latest on the weekend's sport. Auckland University Molecular Medicine Professor, Peter Shepard shares his thoughts on if Pharmac should fund weight loss drugs. Plus, UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on the EU calling an emergency meeting on Greenland and the Trump administration naming former UK prime minister Sir Tony Blair as one of the members of the founding executive board of its "Board of Peace" for Gaza. Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From today, a group of patients with breast and lung cancer will be the first to be able to receive taxpayer-funded medicine in private clinics. Pharmac's manager in charge of pharmaceutical funding, Claire Pouwels spoke to Corin Dann.

Thousands of cases of amputation and vision loss could be prevented thanks to diabetes monitoring technology. Continuous Glucose Monitors, or CGMs, have been funded for Type 1 diabetes since last October. New data from CGM producer Dexcom finds lifetime use of the devices could prevent up to 70 thousand diabetes-related complications and save the country $50 thousand a day. Diabetes New Zealand Chief Executive Heather Verry told Mike Hosking funding should be expanded to all diabetes patients. She says Pharmac is only funding for Type 1, and at $200 a month, these devices are unaffordable for everyone else. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are calls for greater transparency about how Pharmac prioritises medicines on what is effectively a wait list for funding as it considers culling that list. If the proposal goes ahead the government drug buying agency will focus on cutting drugs that have been in the lowest ranked group on the options for funding list for more than two years. Publicly drugs on the funding wait list appear in alphabetical order; but where they are ranked in terms of priority for funding is kept secret. Leukemia and Blood Cancer chief executive Tim Edmonds spoke to Lisa Owen.

The parents of an Auckland toddler say they're living in hope their wee boy will soon have access to a "miracle" life-extending treatment for his cystic fibrosis. Pharmac currently funds the drug Trikafta for those six years and older - but it's now considering including two to five-year-olds. Lauren Crimp reports.

There are over 120 drugs currently being considered, a number of them are listed multiple times for different treatments. 

The Minister for medicines has revealed he is pushing for hundreds of millions of dollars of more funding for drugs in the next year's budget. Associate Health Minister, who is responsible for Pharmac, David Seymour believes medicines should be viewed as an investment and there needs to be a different approach assessing the cost benefits of drugs. It comes as a new report shows the medicine gap between Australia and New Zealand is getting wider and deeper. David Seymour spoke to Lisa Owen.

There's concerns tramadol could be getting over-prescribed, with more patients being given the painkiller. Pharmac data shows more than 270,000 people were prescribed the drug last year - an increase of 14 percent since 2019. UOA School of Pharmacy lecturer Dr Jay Gong says healthcare providers likely prefer prescribing tramadol over stronger painkillers. "There might be some perceived ideas around it - because it's a weaker opioid, it's maybe not as addictive and maybe in the long run, you might not have as much side effects." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The country's drug buying agency, Pharmac, has a new leader. Natalie McMurtry spoke to Corin Dann.

In today's episode, more than 11,500 allied health workers have voted to strike for 24 hours as part of a mega strike later this month; Meridian Energy says the government's long-awaited energy reforms are bold, and provide clarity; The country's drug buying agency, Pharmac, has a new leader; Auckland Council is considering halving rubbish collections - cutting the service from weekly to fortnightly.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 2nd of October, the Government is teaming up with banks to try deliver more social housing – Minister Chris Bishop unpacks the scheme. Pharmac's new Chief Executive Natalie McMurtry speaks for the first time on how she plans to lead the entity. Beloved Kiwi chef Nadia Lim has been working on her new cookbook for about 5-6 years and is on to talk about it and the value of the farm. Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Natalie McMurtry says Pharmac's model drew her to the agency's top job. She is just three weeks into her five-year-contract as chief executive at the drug-buying agency. The Canadian is tasked with continuing efforts to improve the agency's standing with the New Zealand public after years of degradation. McMurty told Mike Hosking she's happy to keep moving forward on the reset plan that's been put in place. She says she saw an opportunity to make an impact, and a board that has a great plan in place – one she could get behind. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pharmac believes it makes sense to leave the day-to-day stuff to Health NZ. The Associate Health Minister and Minister Simeon Brown have jointly announced the national agency and drug-buyer can both procure medical devices. Pharmac will focus on more-technical equipment —due to its level of clinical input and assessment— and Health NZ on bulk-buying standard items. Pharmac Chair Paula Bennett told Mike Hosking it clears up uncertainty around who does what. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 25th of September, a Swedish economist delves into the credentials of our incoming Reserve Bank Governor. Pharmac is funding new medicines who should help our patients and hospitals – David Seymour discusses. Kiwi golfer Ryan Fox is in studio to reflect on the year and talk about the upcoming Chasing the Fox event. Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Seymour believes a refresh of Pharmac's operations is benefiting New Zealanders. Its latest funding proposal includes five new medicines for breast cancer, multiple sclerosis, eye conditions, and lung cancer. The Associate Health Minister says a board and leadership change has worked well, and the next step is ensuring strong budget bids. Seymour told Mike Hosking that instead of Pharmac working within a set allocation, it will now go to the Finance Minister each year for funding. When it comes to recognising Palestine, David Seymour appears to be backing a more cautious approach to the thorny question. Foreign Minister Winston Peters is set to announce our decision at the UN General Assembly in New York on Saturday. Doing so would mean our country joins the likes of Australia, the UK, and France. Seymour told Hosking he has his own opinion on the matter but will support any Government position. He suggests some countries are jumping up and down for political theatre, but New Zealand will consider all the facts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's hoped Pharmac's latest funding proposal will save hospitals and patients valuable time. It's looking at funding five new medicines - for breast cancer, multiple sclerosis, eye conditions, and lung cancer. The proposal includes a new under the skin injection treatment, which could replace some IV infusions. Roche New Zealand Country Medical Director Dr Kerryn Symons says the injection takes just a few minutes, when infusions usually take several hours. "Our calculations show that over a period of five years, that the number of hours released in the infusion clinics is about 45,000." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pharmac is planning to fund a new brand of ADHD medication from the first of December.

Prior to the election, Christopher Luxon made a commitment to fund a list of hard tumour cancer medications. At the same time National repeatedly promised that blood cancer sufferers would not be forgotten. But two years on from that promise, many of them do feel forgotten. The drug Daratumumab, or Dara is on Pharmac's priority drug list. That's the list of drugs it would like to fund, but can't afford. Dara is virtually free in Australia, but costs hundreds of thousand of dollars here. That means some desperate blood cancer patients are funding it themselves; relying on the kindness of others and donation pages. Aucklander Geoff Dawson, has multiple Myeloma, and is on Dara, he spoke to Lisa Owen.

Questions to Ministers NANCY LU to the Minister of Finance: What recent reports has she seen on the economy? RICARDO MENÉNDEZ MARCH to the Minister for Child Poverty Reduction: Does she agree with the findings of the Below the Income Floor: Modelling Income Adequacy for Low-Income New Zealand Households 2018 - 2026 report; if not, why not? Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? DAN BIDOIS to the Minister for Infrastructure: What recent announcements has he made about getting infrastructure built in New Zealand? Hon BARBARA EDMONDS to the Minister of Finance: Does she stand by all her statements and actions? TODD STEPHENSON to the Associate Minister of Health: What recent announcements has he made about Pharmac? RYAN HAMILTON to the Minister of Health: What recent announcements has the Government made about strengthening New Zealand's domestically trained doctor workforce? ARENA WILLIAMS to the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs: Does he stand by his statement that "Having better competition means that we can bring down the cost of living for Kiwis"; if so, what is he doing, if anything, that reduces the cost of living? RAWIRI WAITITI to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? JENNY MARCROFT to the Associate Minister of Health: What recent reports has she seen about smoking in New Zealand? SHANAN HALBERT to the Minister for Universities: Does he stand by all his statements and actions regarding the Waikato medical school? FRANCISCO HERNANDEZ to the Minister for Universities: Does he stand by his announcement about the establishment of a new medical school and that it will "build a stronger, more diverse workforce"; if so, why?

The government has green-lit a new medical school at the University of Waikato, ending months of delays due to coalition wrangling. It was a National election promise, and it has finally got the go ahead, with the government announcing it will front up around $80 million while the University pays $150 million for the project. It will add 120 doctor training places each year, starting in 2028. The announcement also came as inflation edges to a 12-month high, and the Minister in charge of Pharmac released a new letter of expectations. Political reporter Lillian Hanly spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

Drug buying agency Pharmac is bringing patients and consumers to the table. Chair of the new group Dr Malcolm Mulholland spoke to Corin Dann.

Last week Pharmac workers announced their first-ever strike over cuts to annual pay increases and deteriorating work conditions. Also last week, the New Zealand Nurses Organisation announced plans to strike on July 30th. The nurses' strike follows concerns around understaffing and overcrowding, with many staff members facing burnout.  These two issues have been attributed to similar causes - not enough funding in the health sector, which is forcing redundancies, increased hours, and understaffing. While the government has committed extra funding to the health sector in the last two budgets, critics say the funding is inadequate and barely catching up to existing deficits.  In our weekly catch-up with the National party, Wire host Castor asked Tom Rutherford about health funding and the government's plans moving forward in light of the two recently announced health workers' strikes.

A digtal health expert says Aotearoa needs clear laws on the use of artifical intelligence, including what information and data can be fed into model, and whats off limits, as AI is increasingly used in health and other areas. Associate Minister of Health, David Seymour has written to Pharmac encouraging them to use Articficial Intelligence to speed up their processes and improve access to medicines. Medsafe and Pharmac say they've started using Artificial intelligence tools to process complex information and large data sets. AUT Associate Professor and expert in digital health Sam Madanian spoke to Lisa Owen.

There's a second life in single-use medical devices, but getting Pharmac on board with the money-saving venture has been a battleA Canterbury company is successfully remanufacturing so-called single use medical devices, with the potential to save our cash-strapped health sector a wad of money…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

A Kiwi start up has been going gangbusters across the ditch. Medsalv remanufactures single-use medical products, cleaning and disinfecting them so they can be safely reused. After eight years in business, their products have been approved by Pharmac for use in New Zealand. CEO Oliver Hunt told Mike Hosking it's been done in America for a while, but they're really bringing it to the rest of the world, Australia and New Zealand in particular, now. The range of products they can remanufacture is pretty substantial, he says, and they can clean products up to 14 times at a significantly lower cost than the original products. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The much hyped weightloss drug Wegovy, also marketed as Ozempic, is expected to be in high demand when it becomes available in New Zealand from tomorrow. But the drug is unfunded so users hoping to shed weight could be paying up to $500 a month. In 2023 Pharmac approved Wegovy, Ozempic to treat type two diabetes. In June this year it was approved for weight loss use. The once a week injection, which suppresses apetite mirrors natural hormones which regulate appetite. Weight loss specialist Doctor Gerard McQuinlan spoke to Lisa Owen.

The father of a boy using ADHD medication is rationing his sons medication because of drug shortages and is worried things will get worse when new prescribing rules are introduced. From next year GPs and specialist nurses will be able to diagnose and prescribe medication for ADHD. But there is a world-wide shortage of the drugs. Pharmac's website shows there's no stock for nine types of the drugs and low stock for two others. Half a dozen others have no supply issues. Auckland dad Craig has a ten year old son who takes one of the ADHD medications that has supply problems, he spoke to Lisa Owen.

GPs and specialist nurses will soon be able to diagnose and prescribe medication for ADHD. At the moment they need the written recommendation of a psychiatrist or paediatrician to start prescribing medications for Attention Deficit Hyper Activity medications, and that can take months. Now Medsafe and Pharmac have announced a rule change. From next year GPs and nurse practioners will be able to diagnose and start adults on treatment. Dr Anna Skinner, the Chief Clinical Advisor for Primary Care at Health New Zealand spoke to Lisa Owen.