title: What's happening in PHARMAC--where do all the submissions go? On the trail of gemcitabine.
abstract: The process and progress of submissions to PHARMAC for funding of new treatments is unclear. There appears to be a lack of communication or transparency regarding funding applications, decisions, or expected timelines to reach an endpoint. It is difficult to have confidence in a process that lacks such definition. A recent clinician submission for funding of an oncology treatment (gemcitabine) for bladder cancer highlights these issues.
authors.affiliation: Wellington Blood and Cancer Centre, Wellington Hospital, Wellington South, New Zealand. andrew.simpson@ccdhb.org.nz
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Simpson
mesh_terms: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017277:Drug Approval / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000191:economics; D009520:New Zealand; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000093542:Gemcitabine
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000093542:Gemcitabine