Pharmac deal offers salvation for 300,000 sick Kiwis

One in 14 New Zealanders will benefit from better access to treatments after a ground-breaking deal between Pharmac and pharmaceutical company Novartis.

People with multiple sclerosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic myeloid leukaemia, asthma, cystic fibrosis, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's will be the big winners with new public funding for nine new treatment options and six new medications which is expected to help 300,000 people.

It represented the greatest number of new medicines and widening of targeted treatment areas for a single agreement since Pharmac was created to manage public spending on medicines 21 years ago.

The deal included funding Gilenya, a medication for patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis, and Tasigna, a drug that transformed treatment of chronic myeloid leukaemia.

The move was applauded by those suffering the debilitating conditions.

Auckland woman Mellanie Ullrich, 40, is New Zealand's only person self-funding Gilenya, which costs her nearly $60,000 a year.

She broke down in tears at the news of Pharmac's decision.

"I hope my personal and extremely positive experience on Gilenya helps Pharmac confirm that the decision to fund the drug for patients in New Zealand is the right one," she said yesterday.

Within weeks of starting the drug, her fatigue and sleepiness reduced significantly and no longer affected her quality of life.

For a mother of two and caregiver to foster babies, the ability to function and have energy to look after her family was life changing, she said.

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Pharmac deal offers salvation for 300,000 sick Kiwis