Generic image. Photo: 123RF
More nutritional supplements will soon be available for people with inherited metabolic diseases.
Pharmac is funding a wider range of supplements - including some for the first time - from 1 February.
Inherited metabolic diseases are genetic, lifelong conditions that can cause compounds in the body to build up to toxic levels and lead to adverse effects such as cognitive impairment.
Those with such diseases often need to follow very restrictive diets and use specific supplements to meet their nutritional needs, Pharmac's pharmaceuticals director Geraldine MacGibbon said.
"We understand that people living with inherited metabolic diseases, like phenylketonuria, will benefit from a greater choice of supplements to support their health and wellbeing," MacGibbon said.
"We expect approximately 120 people in New Zealand will use these supplements in the first full year of funding, increasing by approximately three to four people each year."
It was pleasing to offer more treatment options considering the "significant restraints" of Pharmac's budget and its ability to make new investments, MacGibbon said.
The new treatments, supplied by Cortex Health and Vitaflo, were suitable for people with a range of diseases including:
- phenylketonuria
- maple syrup urine disease
- homocystinuria
- tyrosinemia
- glutaric aciduria
- propionic acidaemia
- organic acidaemias
- ECHS1-related disease or short chain enoyl coA hydratase deficiency
- urea cycle disorders
- glycogen storage disease
Advocacy groups and clinicians provided feedback in response to Pharmac's original proposal to fund the supplements, MacGibbon said.
"We've heard there is more to consider regarding access to these treatments, so we will continue these conversations with the health sector and the affected communities."