Learn
More
About
Diabetes 
Medication and Supplies
NOTE: This page describes systems and processes that are specific for eligible people living in New Zealand.
What's covered on this page
Introducing Medicines
Medical Devices and Other Supplies
Prescription Items
Medsafe
PHARMAC
So Who Pays What?
Consumer Guide (external link)
Use Diabetes Supplies!
Introducing Medicines
Medicines are a sub-set of therapeutic products, further broadly categorised into:
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Prescription medicines, which require a prescription and can only be dispensed by a pharmacist;
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Restricted medicines (pharmacist-only medicines), which can be obtained without a prescription, but must be dispensed by a pharmacist;
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Pharmacy-only medicines, which can only be obtained from a pharmacy;
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Over-the-counter medicines;
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Complementary or alternative medicines.
Original ('innovative' or 'brand name') medicines are new medicines; generic medicines are later copies of the original product, and these tend to be cheaper. As of 1996, in New Zealand a pharmacist may replace a brand name item with a generic item for cost saving purposes ("generic substitution").
Tablets and insulins for blood glucose control are classified as prescription medicines.
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WHAT'S IN A NAME? Brand name is the original name for a medicine Manufacturer's name is a name given to the product as made by a given manufacturer Chemical name usually relates to the active ingredient Form relates to whether the medicine is in the form of capsules, tablets, cream, injection solution... and so on Strength describes the concentration of the active ingredient Extemporaneously compounded substances are made up by pharmacists from a concentrated source (e.g. powder) |
Medical Devices and Other Supplies
Other items that might be required on a regular basis by someone with diabetes may include the following:
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see "Using Insulin"
see "Blood Glucose Testing" |
Prescription items
Most of your diabetes medications and supplies will be obtained as prescription items. Some items might be available over the counter, but it may be cheaper to get them with a prescription if they are subsidised items.
Medsafe classifies medicines and medical devices - this determines whether a prescription is required for the consumer to obtain the medicine and, (if a script is not required,) where the product may be sold. MedSafe approves a medicine for use in New Zealand; PHARMAC negotiates the price the Health system will pay for that medicine, and sets out conditions for the payment of subsidies.
MEDSAFEMedsafe is the New Zealand Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority. It is a business unit of the Ministry of Health (MOH) and is responsible for the regulation of the use of therapeutic products, including:
*Unsafe products can be withdrawn from the market Additionally, Medsafe has regulatory roles in numerous other positions along the medicine supply chain. Medsafe also plays a regulatory role in the advertising of therapeutic products in New Zealand. By law, Medsafe must approve all medicines and related products or items before they can be marketed in New Zealand. A number of different independent advisory committees inform Medsafe on a variety of issues, enabling access to a solid base of medical and pharmaceutical expertise |
PHARMACPHARMAC is the Pharmaceutical Management Agency - a Crown entity that supports section 46(1) of the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act (2000) PHARMAC is accountable to the Minister of Health. It's primary objective is to ensure the best health outcomes for people who need pharmaceuticals that can be reasonably achieved from pharmaceutical treatment, given the available funds (i.e. the Pharmaecutical Budget). PHARMAC facilitates a list of subsidised pharmaceuticals - known as the Pharmaceutical Schedule. Pharmaceutical manufacturers and suppliers apply to PHARMAC to have a given medicine included in the list. The PHARMAC Board (appointed by the Minister of Health) makes the ultimate decisions regarding level of subsidy and dictates prescribing guidelines and conditions, with some input from independent medical experts from the Pharmacology and Therapeutics Advisory Committee and specialist sub-committees. Consumer input into PHARMAC's decision-making processes is made possible through the Consumer Advisory Committee. PHARMAC also acts to promote the responsible use of pharmaceuticals, and to oversee purchasing of hospital pharmaceuticals on behalf of District Health Boards (DHBs). |
So Who pays What?
Subsidised items
A large part of the cost of a subsidised item is met by the Government and comes out of the Pharmaceutical Budget A small part of the cost is usually met by the patient - the prescription charge - which may range up to $15 for a 3-month supply of a fully subsidised item (see box below). Sometimes a manufacturers surcharge* or an afters-hours fee may be applicable.
[Adapted from Pharmaceutical Schedule 2007] *Pharmaceutical Subsidy Cards are awarded on an annual basis to families after the first 20 prescriptions (costing >$0) since the previous February |
*Not all items that are subsidised are fully subsidised. According to PHARMAC, the agency aims to fully subsidise at least one item in each therapeutic group. However, although PHARMAC does have contracts with some suppliers to maintain the price of given products, manufacturers are able to set their own price to pharmacies. If the price exceeds the subsidy, the pharmacist may recoup the difference from the patient.
Special Authority items
A prescriber (e.g. your doctor) can go through a special process to request that a given item be subsidised for a particular person on an individual basis. This is known as a Special Authority application. If certain criteria (set by PHARMAC) are met, the application should be approved, and a Special Authority number is assigned, which must appear on the script in order for the subsidy to be paid.
A Consumer Guide for People with DiabetesDiabetes New Zealand, with the help of PHARMAC, have put together an excellent resource covering the availability of diabetes medications and supplies in New Zealand. The Consumer Guide to Diabetes Products is updated on a regular basis and well worth looking at if you are not sure of your options. |
Use Diabetes Supplies!
Diabetes New Zealand Supplies is a wholly owned subsidiary of Diabetes New Zealand Inc. Its purpose is to provide a range of services to people living with Diabetes. All profits made by Diabetes New Zealand Supplies go back to Diabetes New Zealand to help fund the operation to provide education, support and advocacy programmes across New Zealand.
Diabetes New Zealand Supplies not only supplies a range of consumables for people living with Diabetes, they also supply blood glucose testing strips directly to your door. Next time you get your prescription from your medical practitioner, ask them to write you a separate script for your blood glucose testing strips and then send that (Freepost) to them.
They need your help!
By using Diabetes New Zealand Supplies to get your test strips you will be directly helping to fund Diabetes New Zealand. We desperately need to increase our funding in order to continue to support the growing number of people with diabetes in New Zealand.
It’s simple!
Next time you need a prescription, ask at your doctors if you can
have a separate script for your blood glucose test strips.
| Send your prescription
for strips to: Freepost DSL Diabetes Supplies Ltd PO Box 54 OAMARU 9444 |
