Medicines and Therapies

Pharmac has signed deals to supply 120,000 courses of antivirals to community patients, but with Omicron cases likely to surge ahead of Delta, the RNZCGP questions whether that is enough

We are on our summer break and the editorial office is closed until 17 January. In the meantime, please enjoy our Summer Hiatus series, an eclectic mix from our news and clinical archives and articles from The Conversation throughout the year

Pharmac’s drug buying approach disadvantages Māori, Pacific people, disabled people, those living with rare disorders and does little to reduce inequity. 

Pharmacist prescribers have had the list of drugs they can prescribe expanded for the first time since their role was established. Jonathan Chilton-Towle reports

A proposal to reduce restrictions on pharmacists dispensing the gout medication allopurinol has pushed through one more barrier

AFT Pharmaceuticals has asked the Medicines Classification Committee to reclassify ibuprofen 300mg in powder form as a pharmacist-only medicine, but the Pharmaceutical Society is not so sure.

Pharmac says its brand switch for most people receiving Humira injections will save money and improve and simplify access to adalimumab 

The most surprising aspect of the Ministry of Health’s expansion of drugs for pharmacist prescribers is that it took nine years to happen, says a leader in the field

For the last decade, Martin Woodbridge has worked with regulators, and industry and health professionals to promote the rational use of cannabis-based medicines. Here, he considers the introduction of cannabis-based medicines to New Zealand and explores what it means for pharmacy practice

Pharmac has negotiated an agreement with supplier Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD) to purchase the antiviral molnupiravir