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Pharmac is considering widening access to antiviral drugs for more people who are at risk of hospitalisation and death from Covid-19.
The government drug-buying agency is proposing to fund antivirals for everyone receiving disability support services, as well as people with single conditions putting them at high risk of severe illness if they get infected.
Its chief medical officer, Dr David Hughes, said Pharmac was also looking at giving GPs more discretion to prescribe antiviral treatments for other people who would benefit.
Dr David Hughes. Photo: Supplied / LDR
"We now know that these antiviral treatments can be effective at reducing the severity of illness for those most at risk from Covid-19 infection," he said.
"We want to ensure that people who can benefit the most from the treatments can access them, and that healthcare practitioners are able to identify who we are trying to target with the criteria."
In making the proposal, Pharmac was taking on board new evidence - including data from Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People - and feedback from the community and healthcare practitioners.
The consultation includes nirmatrelvir with ritonavir (branded as Paxlovid), remdesivir (branded as Veklury) and molnupiravir (branded as Lagevrio).
Currently antivirals are funded for:
- everyone aged 65 or over
- anyone aged 50 or over with fewer than 2 Covid-19 vaccinations
- anyone with a severely weakened immune system
- anyone with Down syndrome
- anyone with sickle cell disease
- anyone who has previously been in critical or high dependency hospital care from Covid-19
- anyone with 3 or more high-risk medical conditions.
Consultation on the proposed changes to the access criteria closes at 5pm on 21 August.