Plea to Pharmac for pricey life-saver

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Thu, 24 Jan 2013 5:32a.m.

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A group of New Zealanders battling an ultra-rare blood disease are pleading for Pharmac to fund the world's most expensive drug to save their lives.

A group of New Zealanders battling an ultra-rare blood disease are pleading for Pharmac to fund the world's most expensive drug to save their lives.

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1/02/2013 11:50:23 p.m.

Sarah wrote:

OR the drug companies could grow a heart and stop making billions and billions of dollars in profit from sick people and start being more chartiable..then the government could spend less money on subsidy and more on promoting good health. problem solved :) the end

25/01/2013 12:12:04 p.m.

Straight Arrow wrote:

I would be more upset if my child was one of thousands denied access to drugs because funding was allocated to a very few number. Again, whose treatment do you propose should be traded for these drugs Kim? This is not a hypothetical...there is a limited pot, and answering "increasing the pot" is not realistic as (1) money will have to come from somewhere, and (2) everybody will want ultra-expensive drugs to extend their lives, which will place greater strain on funds.

24/01/2013 10:49:24 p.m.

MARK wrote:

Alison stop being a ploker. You are a great advert for not voting for the left. Morons like you will make sure Labour will get the boot again. Anything to keep those evil and corrupt socialist out.

24/01/2013 9:45:28 p.m.

Kim wrote:

@Peter and Straight Arrow.. Would you be so cost concerned if it was your child? I doubt it.

24/01/2013 5:46:53 p.m.

Peter wrote:

That works out at about $1,400 a day per person for the rest of their lives, 50 or 60 years if the disease comes on so early in life & the drug works as suggested. A total $25 to $30 million each, how many others will have their medical treatment reduced to cover these costs.

24/01/2013 5:41:48 p.m.

Straight Arrow wrote:

It is half million per year, per patient, for life. Assuming a 30 year old lives till 70, that is $40 million per person. Given there are limited funds, what should be traded-off?

24/01/2013 1:10:33 p.m.

alison wrote:

If the govt can bin a half mill report on the Bain case and simply try and get another as it wasnt what they wanted Im sure they can push for this funding. Let John Key save on his ridiculous security costs or get rid of novapay and let schools sort their own budgets. This would more than fund any amount of drugs.

24/01/2013 7:34:05 a.m.

Grant wrote:

What a coincidence, I was poisoned by chloramphenicol and the unsubsidised drugs to keep me alive cost me $2 a day. It appears PNH is also linked to poisoning by chloramphenicol and the drug costs.....

24/01/2013 6:43:58 a.m.

Grant wrote:

I have to pay full price for the medication that keeps me alive. I get no government subsidy. Mine only costs about two dollars a day. But as I can no longer get a decent job due to my condition even that is a struggle. Why should these people get this grossly expensive drug.