Here you will find all our clinical education resources from articles to recorded webinars, all supporting equitable access to funded medicines.
Patients can no longer be started on funded selegiline. Patients who were on selegiline prior to 1 August 2021 will need their prescriptions endorsed to receive subsidised supplies. An alternative MAO-B inhibitor, rasagiline, may be a suitable agent for new patients or those transitioning from selegiline.
This resource provides a timeline for the changes and information about transitioning patients from selegiline. Advice on prescribing rasagiline is also included.
In this webinar, Dr Ryan Paul discusses the newly-funded type 2 diabetes medication dulaglutide, and provides advice on when and how to use it.
Dulaglutide is available from 1 September, but do you know how to pronounce it? Listen to our quick guide for help.
From 1 September and when clinically indicated, dulaglutide can be started in adult patients with type 2 diabetes using the steps shown in this resource.
Talking points, relevant for all patients starting dulaglutide, are provided along with two algorithms and accompanying prescribing notes.
When clinically indicated, empagliflozin can be started in adult patients with type 2 diabetes using the steps shown in this resource (updated 24 Aug 2021).
Talking points, relevant for all patients starting empagliflozin, are provided along with two algorithms and accompanying prescribing notes. Which algorithm you follow will depend on your patient’s level of hypoglycaemia risk.
In this webinar, Dr Raewyn Fisher discusses the range of disease-modifying therapies that have improved heart failure outcomes, and provides reassurance around the funding changes to cilazapril.
When initiating either empagliflozin or dulaglutide, the newly funded second-line type 2 diabetes agents,1 choice is based primarily on predominant comorbidities, clinical features and tolerability.
Administration route is an additional factor; dulaglutide is a once-weekly, subcutaneous injection and empagliflozin is a daily tablet. Patient factors are also important, and the contraindications and adverse effects profiles differ.
Read the HAH Bulletin to find out more.
Biological medicines are already used in Aotearoa New Zealand and with more being developed internationally, it’s important that health professionals feel comfortable prescribing, dispensing, and supporting patients to use them.
We’ve highlighted five key aspects of these medicines in an article and a series of short animated videos. After completing each section, you can take a short quiz to test your learning.
Last year, cilazapril with hydrochlorothiazide was discontinued, and now cilazapril alone is no longer funded for new patients. Consultant cardiologist Chris Ellis discusses what to do when patients with hypertension run out of their supply of these medications
Prescribers wanting to block angiotensin II effects can consider the remaining funded ACE inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor blockers. ACE inhibitors and ARBs are similarly effective for hypertension, chronic renal disease and diabetic nephropathy, but ARBs are better tolerated.2 ACE inhibitors are preferred over ARBs first-line for heart failure and post myocardial infarction.2
Read the HAH Bulletin to find out more.
Pharmac has identified five key drivers of medicine access equity in New Zealand. Read on to learn about the drivers and how you can implement them in your place of work.
Dulaglutide, a once-weekly injectable medicine, will soon be available for second-line treatment of type 2 diabetes. As most people with type 2 diabetes will require an injectable therapy at some stage, it is important to build acceptability early in the patient journey.