Decision pending on diabetes medications
Should new medicines to treat type 2 diabetes be funded?
Should more than 50,000 people receive funding for the drugs?
Government drug-funding agency Pharmac is expected to decide next week whether it will fund two new medicines to treat type 2 diabetes.
Botany resident Graham King and thousands of other people who suffer from the condition hope the decision will fall in their favour.
King (pictured) pays $100 a month for Dapagliflozin, which is used to treat the condition.
Despite the cost, he said it helps control his diabetes and has cut the amount of insulin he has to take.
He said he doesn't think people should endure what he has had to to get modern medicines, like Dapagliflozin, Empagliflozin and Dulaglutide, to treat the condition.
"I'm just lucky I can afford $100 a month."
Figures released by the Ministry of Health last year showed there were 45,266 people registered in the Counties Manukau area with type 2 diabetes in 2019.
Pharmac chief executive Sarah Fitt said that next week its board will look at funding both Empagliflozin and Dulaglutide for 50,000 New Zealanders with type two diabetes who have a high risk of complications such as heart and kidney disease.
"Clinical experts told us that there is evidence for significant benefit from these two medicines in people with established or at high risk of cardiovascular and/or renal disease," she said.
Chicken nuggets recall
A popular Pam's frozen food has been recalled.
What you need to know:
- Pams brand Tempura Coated Chicken Nuggets (1kg) have been recalled by Foodstuffs.
- The product may contain foreign matter (blue rubber).
- This product is sold at Four Square, Gilmours, New World, Pak’nSave and Social Supermarket stores throughout New Zealand.
- The affected batch has the marking of Best Before: 16 Oct 2025
- The issue was raised following a customer complaint.
- Customers should return the product to their retailer for a full refund.
For other recent food/product recalls, check our list here.
🧩 Crack the Code: Today’s Riddle Challenge! 🤔
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Give old items a new life: book your inorganic collection
☀️ Making the most of the fine weather to clear out clutter? Book your annual inorganic collection, and we'll pick up the items straight from your property.
From scrap metal and whiteware to bikes and laptops, we work with over 150 community organisations to give items a second life—repairing, repurposing, and reusing them. ♻️
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