MEDIA RELEASE
2 JUNE 2022

Diabetes NZ welcomes an increased focus on more equitable outcomes and stronger outcomes for Māori, Pacific peoples and others with specific health needs. 

We are pleased to see the Pharmac Review report finally released, three months after the Minister received it. We agree with many of the panel’s findings, including that the Pharmac model has delivered significant benefits for New Zealand, but these benefits need to be shared more equitably across our communities to achieve its purpose. 

We are concerned but not surprised at the finding that analysis of Māori health needs and issues was poor with little information on Māori health needs and inequities. 

Diabetes NZ Chief Executive Heather Verry says, ‘PHARMAC needs to honour the Government’s commitment to improving equitable outcomes for Māori and Pacific peoples in particular, who along with Asian communities are disproportionately impacted by type 2 diabetes.” 

We are also deeply disappointed that the review did not identify diabetes as a priority for improved access to modern medicines and technology. 

Verry says, “We are concerned that Pharmac wishes the decision-making processes around medical devices to be held by Health NZ. This acknowledges that this is an area where they do not feel comfortable, and that decisions on funding for technology will continue to be delayed. 

“There is overwhelming evidence that funding modern technology such as continuous and flash glucose monitors not only dramatically improves immediate health outcomes such as hospitalisations, but also long-term outcomes for complications from diabetes. These can include severe damage to eyes, kidneys, feet, oral and dental, heart and thyroid health and increased vulnerability to infection. Funding better technologies and medications for diabetes would truly be a holistic approach to improving health outcomes for the 280,000 Kiwis living with this relentless condition.” 

In December 2020 Pharmac funded empagliflozin and dulaglutide. These medicines help manage type 2 diabetes-related complications like kidney and heart disease in people who are at high risk of these complications as well as managing blood sugar levels. However, funding is strictly limited by Special Criteria and is by no means enough to stem the epidemic of type 2 diabetes threatening to overwhelm Aotearoa’s health system. 

Diabetes NZ has been advocating for changes to Pharmac processes for a long time, so we are encouraged that some change is coming. We especially support that Pharmac will need to engage more with health consumer voices and more actively collaborate and coordinate with other parts of the health administration and the health sector. These concerns are acknowledged in the review, which expresses concern about PTAC’s role in assessing cost. 

New Zealanders want better tools to fight diabetes, like improved diabetes medicines and modern technology that is readily available in other comparable countries. Diabetes NZ will continue to advocate for these.

ENDS 

For more information, or interviews, please contact: Frances Redpath, frances@diabetes.org.nz or 027 226 5525. 

For a statement from Diabetes NZ, contact Diabetes NZ Chief Executive Heather Verry heather@diabetes.org.nz, 027 482 9422. 

Note to Editors: Diabetes Stats and Figures – NZ 

Most recent figures 2020. 

• New Zealanders with diabetes: 277, 803 

• New Zealander with type 1 diabetes: 27,800* (approx. based on 10% of all cases) 

• New Zealanders with type 2 diabetes: 250,000* (approx. based on 90% of all cases) 

• Māori with type 2 diabetes: 41,000 (approx. based on 90% of all Māori with diabetes) 

• Further statistics: https://www.hqsc.govt.nz/our-data/atlas-of-healthcare-variation/diabetes/ 

*The figure is based on estimates by the Ministry of Health. 

About Diabetes NZ 

Diabetes New Zealand is a charity that represents and supports people with diabetes. We have been around for over 50 years and have a national office in Wellington, and branches across the country with staff and volunteers who help people live well with diabetes. 

About type 1 diabetes 

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease where the pancreas doesn’t make insulin or cannot make good use of the insulin that is produces. Without insulin, there is no way for the body to produce energy from glucose, resulting in increased glucose levels in the blood. This increase can lead to damage to the body and failure of vital organs and tissues. 

There is no way to prevent type 1 diabetes. People can contract the disease at any age, when the immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas. 

About type 2 diabetes 

Type 2 diabetes is a condition whereby the pancreas either fails to produce insulin, or for the body fails to respond to insulin – a hormone that is needed to keep blood glucose at a healthy level. The condition develops over time, causing an increase in blood glucose levels in the blood. This damages parts of the body including nerves of your eyes & feet, kidneys and heart.