title: PHARMAC and Ventolin in New Zealand.
abstract: Recently, PHARMAC undertook an unfortunate experiment on asthma sufferers when it fundamentally changed its funding support for reliever medications. Ventolin metered dose inhaler (MDI), the backbone of asthma relief for over 30 years, was dropped in favour of Salamol, a post-patent salbutamol in a device which, within the first few weeks of use, has been found to be ineffective by many patients, and thus potentially dangerous. PHARMAC has agreed to reconsider its decision, but how was this decision reached in the first place?
authors.affiliation: Anglesea Paediatrics Ltd, Hamilton, New Zealand. jgill@wave.co.nz
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gillies
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Cass
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Byrnes
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Farrell
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Graham
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000420:Albuterol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D004345:Drug Industry / Q000379:methods*; D004867:Equipment Design; D004868:Equipment Failure; D006801:Humans; D036501:Metered Dose Inhalers; D009520:New Zealand; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D000420:Albuterol