31 May 2005
PHARMAC welcomes call for more research into impact of dispensing
PHARMAC is welcoming the recommendation of the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) to commission research looking at the
impact of dispensing rates on medicine usage.
The OAG report into the implementation of all-at-once dispensing in 2003 points out the relationship between the way
people use their medicine, and the frequency of dispensing is not well researched.
PHARMAC Chief Executive Wayne McNee says the report also finds that the policy change does achieve savings for DHBs, and
these will continue to be realised as long as the current contractual arrangements between DHBs and pharmacists are in
place.
“The OAG report agrees with PHARMAC that considerable savings will be made from the return to all-at-once dispensing,
and that the assumptions used to calculate these figures, and the steps taken to implement the change, were reasonable,”
Wayne McNee says.
The question about the relationship between dispensing frequency and medicine usage is one that PHARMAC would be
interested in knowing the answer to.
“At the time we consulted on the change back to all-at-once dispensing, we did receive feedback that people could be
more likely to take their medicine if they received it all at once. These people felt making repeated trips to the
pharmacy was a barrier to taking their medicine,” Wayne McNee adds.
“PHARMAC has a legislated role to ensure medicines are used responsibly, and of course this includes implementing
policies that encourage people to take the medicine that is prescribed for them. We agree with the Auditor General that
this is an area where more research could be undertaken.”
The OAG report also recommended that the Ministry of Health lead a discussion with agencies such as DHBs, PHARMAC, ACC
and local councils about who is responsible for monitoring and disposing of unused medicines.
Wayne McNee says he is pleased that the OAG has overall produced a positive review of the return to all-at-once
dispensing.
ENDS