Anaphylaxis sufferers can now have peace of mind knowing from today they will have access to two funded EpiPens, which would otherwise cost between $100 - $350 and last for 12-18 months.

This announcement comes following a consultation from Pharmac last year.

Bindi Norwell, ProCare Group CEO, says: “We are delighted Pharmac has agreed to fund two EpiPens for anaphylaxis suffers from today. This is a huge relief for whānau who live with someone or experience anaphylaxis themselves. For some, the financial burden was forcing them to make the difficult decision to risk going without it.”

Allan Moffitt, Clinical Director at ProCare, says: “This announcement will grant peace of mind to those who have underlying health conditions and our Pacific people, in particular, who are more than twice at risk of having anaphylaxis through food allergy than our Māori or Asian populations*”.

“Given the increasing incidence for food allergies and anaphylaxis (for some populations this has increased three-fold in the past ten years), we are very pleased to see Pharmac has moved to subsidise this lifesaving treatment,” concludes Moffitt.

ProCare made a submission in support of this proposal in October 2022, noting initial concerns around the strain on General Practitioners to prescribe the medication, health literacy of the community, and additional auto-injectors for particularly vulnerable populations.

Pharmac noted several of ProCare’s recommendations and have adjusted the prescribers to include relevant health professionals as well as General Practitioners.

*Kool B, Chandra D, Fitzharris P, Adult food-induced anaphylaxis hospital presentations in New Zealand Postgraduate Medical Journal 2016;92:640-644.*Kool B, Chandra D, Fitzharris P, Adult food-induced anaphylaxis hospital presentations in New Zealand Postgraduate Medical Journal 2016;92:640-644.