Uptake of new medicines in New Zealand: evidence of a waiting list.

ABSTRACT

AIMS: The Pharmacology and Therapeutics Advisory Committee (PTAC) advises the Pharmaceutical Management Agency (PHARMAC) which medicines should be listed on the New Zealand Pharmaceutical Schedule. This research analyses the PTAC recommendations from 2006 to September 2014 and aims to identify the composition of a waiting list of medicines, including levels of PTAC priority for positive recommendations and measure mean waiting times for these medicines to receive public funding. METHOD: Funding recommendations in the minutes of the New Zealand Pharmacology and Therapeutics Advisory Committee (PTAC) from 2006 to September 2014 were analysed and compared with the New Zealand Pharmaceutical Schedule for the same period. A list is developed, comprised of agents that received a positive funding recommendation from PTAC, but are still unlisted in the schedule. Waiting periods were measured from the time of the first positive PTAC recommendation to September 2014. RESULTS: There are 29 medicines (for 31 indications) awaiting listing on the pharmaceutical schedule after receiving positive PTAC recommendations. Delays to listing of these medicines range between 0.3 years and 8.2 years. Somewhat surprisingly, mean waiting times did not differ substantially between different listing priorities assigned by PTAC. CONCLUSIONS: There are a substantial number of medicines awaiting funding in New Zealand after receiving positive recommendations from PTAC. We recommend that in the interest of transparent reporting, PHARMAC regularly publish a list of pharmaceuticals awaiting listing on the Pharmaceutical Schedule; their PTAC priority status; and the length of time they have been waiting.