Improved access to medicines for urinary tract infections and Parkinson's disease

Pharmac | Te Pātaka Whaioranga is widening access to a medicine to treat urinary tract infections and funding a combination medicine for people with Parkinson's disease.

“Over 3,100 New Zealanders will benefit from these medicines in the first year of funding,” says Pharmac’s Senior Therapeutic Group Manager/Team Leader, Alexandra Compton.

From 1 November 2024, fosfomycin (branded as UroFos), will be funded in the community as for urinary tract infections. It is already funded in hospitals.

Compton says that the decision to widen access to fosfomycin means that 2,600 more people will be able to access the treatment and it will be easier to get.

“For many people, a urinary tract infection is something that can be treated with antibiotics from your GP, but some people experiencing more severe symptoms need to get treatment in hospital.”

“Our Anti-infective Advisory Committee told us that having fosfomycin available in the community would reduce the number of people needing to go to the hospital for treatment for UTIs by 80%. This change is fantastic for people with urinary tract infections, and it will also help reduce pressure on the health system.”

Pharmac has also decided to fund a new medicine, a combination tablet treatment for Parkinson's disease, levodopa with carbidopa and entacapone (branded as Stalevo), from 1 February 2025. About 580 people are expected to access this treatment in the first year.

“This decision introduces a combination treatment option for people with Parkinson's disease, which will see them able to take fewer tablets per day, which is another positive outcome for patients,” says Compton.

The Government provided additional funding to Pharmac in June 2024 to fund new medicines and widen access to already funded medicines. The funding boost covers medicines for both cancer and non-cancer health conditions.