PHARMAC seeks doctors' advice

PHARMAC is seeking a medical opinion – it wants doctors’ advice on how it can best communicate with clinicians.

In its Annual Review published today, the drug funding agency is asking how it can improve the flow of information between PHARMAC and health professionals.

Medical Director Dr Peter Moodie says PHARMAC already communicates with clinicians in a number of ways and is always keen to hear if it can do better.

“We want health professionals to feel like we have taken the necessary steps to include all relevant clinical advice in our decisions and to make people aware of changes when they occur,” he says.

“We also want to show that the views provided to us have been listened to, but we’re very conscious of not over-burdening clinicians with information.”

Doctors are busy people and are already subject to information being provided by a variety of sources. Dr Moodie says it is a real balancing act to ensure PHARMAC gets it right.

“It would be impractical for doctors to take an in-depth interest in all PHARMAC’s activities – but at the same time we want doctors to feel well informed and know that we have listened to clinical advice,” he says.

Currently PHARMAC receives advice from health professionals through three main channels – funding applications, via its clinical advisory committee PTAC and its advisory commitees, and through submissions when proposals are put out for consultation.

“We want to be confident when making decisions at PHARMAC that we have the right advice, so we invest a good deal of effort in ensuring we receive input from those with an interest or speciality in particular areas,” Dr Moodie says.

In terms of information to health professionals, PHARMAC notifies funding changes, provides monthly updates of the Pharmaceutical Shedule and lists changes on its website. In addition the agency has close relationships with major clinical assocations and colleges.

The best practice advocacy centre (BPACNZ), run by Professional Murray Tilyard of Otago University, is funded by PHARMAC, while PHARMAC also funds a series of professional development seminars.

For the past two years, it has also been running the PHARMAC Forum, another vehicle for health professionals to communicate with PHARMAC, this time in a face to face manner.

“PHARMAC has been constantly looking for new and improved ways to ensure doctors have the information they need and feel their voice is heard. But if you think there’s another way or have suggestions to improve the way we currently do things, we’d love to hear from you,” Dr Moodie says.