Government Delays treatment Opportunities for Alzheimer’s disease
The government is unnecessarily denying people with Alzheimer’s disease the right to accessible and affordable
anti-Alzheimer’s medications, which can reverse, or delay the progression of this form of dementia, according to
Alzheimers New Zealand.
“The government is using delaying tactics and can no longer hide behind the usual excuse that there is not enough money
for Pharmac to subsidize anti-Alzheimer’s medications,” said Karen Hyland
The lack of government funding for Alzheimer’s disease is especially disappointing as the government’s pharmaceuticals
funding agency, Pharmac, recently announced a $50 million increase in its annual funding, but only because of a decision
to partially bulk dispense some drugs.
Unfortunately, Pharmac’s funding change will not allow the organisation to fund new medicines that could dramatically
alter the quality of life for many New Zealanders and ultimately reduce healthcare costs, Karen Hyland said.
“This government is effectively prejudicing towards people with Alzheimer’s disease by not making treatment affordable,”
said Alzheimers New Zealand National Director Karen Hyland. “The disease is one of the leading causes of death in the
world, and it can affect young people and old alike, yet it is not being treated responsibly.”
“Regrettably, the government does not seem to recognise that many younger people are being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s
disease. There is no cure for the disease but with the ability to diagnose earlier there is a responsibility to ensure
that treatment to minimise the effect of the disease can be accessed,” said Karen Hyland.
All Alzheimers New Zealand asks is that all people affected by Alzheimer’s disease including carers, family members and
people with the disease afforded the same respect and priority that others with medical diseases are. We must ensure
that people can sort out their lives before they can no longer do so by buying time with these medications.
“We need these medications subsidised without further delay,” said Karen Hyland