The ADHD community is hailing a decision to begin consultation on new medicine and an easier renewal process which could see changes in place by the end of the year.
Pharmac is seeking feedback to fund the drug lisdexamfetamine, known as Vyvanse, and to scrap the bi-annual renewal criteria for stimulant medicines used in ADHD treatment by December 1.
ADHD NZ spokesperson Darrin Bull said the changes being consulted on were “long overdue”.
“It’s been in place for over 20 years and we know from research that a third of our community have significant barriers in getting the help they need because of those special authority rules.”
Vyvanse is a medication “generations ahead” of what is currently available in New Zealand, he added.
“This proposal is a significant step forward that will enable the ADHD community to thrive.”
Pharmac announced on Thursday it’s seeking feedback on funding one drug and scrapping the renewal criteria for stimulant medicines. (Source: 1News)
Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick, who has ADHD, said it was “huge news” that had been a long-time coming.
“We have hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders who are living with ADHD who are unable to get affordable, accessible treatment, so this is a really important step in the right direction to starting to break down those barriers.”
Content creator Shelley Pretorius said she was “sick” of having to go back and get re-diagnosed with ADHD every two years.
“I don’t need to go back and be told ‘hey, you have ADHD’. I know, I live in this body, I know.”
Consultation for both proposals opened on September 12, with the funding proposal for lisdexamfetamine closing on September 26 and the removal of the renewal criteria closing on October 3.
