South Pacific

An interesting look at New Zealand's 'unique drug agency' - the Pharmaceutical Management Agency (PHARMAC) - and important lessons U.K. policymakers can learn if prices for therapies and access to key drugs are to be protected. 

A national bowel screening programme was being rolled out around the country for people between 60 and 74, but there were calls to begin screening at 50 like in Australia.

I often lie in bed when I can’t sleep, torturing myself with thoughts of what I could have done differently.

An Australian woman has sparked a conversation about drug prices in the US compared to other countries after looking up the cost of her ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder) medication.

Around 700 Australians are told they have mesothelioma each year - an aggressive cancer caused by exposure to asbestos.

There are around 265,000 children in the 12-15 age bracket in New Zealand.

Australia has invited proposals from pharmaceutical firms to establish domestic manufacturing of mRNA vaccines.

An angry Northland cancer patient who is part of group lobbying for better access to publicly-funded drugs says the $200 million given to Pharmac in the Budget "isn't good at all".

With deaths caused by prescription medication outstripping those resulting from illegal drug use, a national system is being rolled out to better keep tabs on people's prescriptions and curb 'doctor-shopping'.

It can cost up to $1,000 a month, but from June 1st those eligible under the PBS will pay just $41.30 a script or $6.60 for concession card holders.

Australia's isolation strategy has helped it so far prevent a large pandemic impact, but its rollout of authorized vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and AstraZeneca has been slow.

The new system in New Zealand will be up and running within two years.

A woman trying to get drugs funded for young SMA patients was horrified when Pharmac said it might end blanket funding of kids' cancer medicines because she had accused it of discrimination.

Now the 28-year-old has been told her “last option” is a treatment that costs $12,000 every three weeks.

Drug manufacturers are challenging a provision in Australian patent law that could determine the extent to which the pharma industry continues to find the Australian market attractive.