Lisa Williams
World Porridge Making Championship winner
Lisa Williams holds a world title that many of you won't know about - she's the 2022 World Porridge Making Champion. Audio
NZ has major shortage of HRT medicines
70 per cent of women aged between 45 and 55 suffer significant symptoms from menopause. It goes way beyond hot flushes - there are mood swings, night sweats, aching muscles, sleep problems, anxiety… Audio
New drug could be funded for spinal muscular atrophy
Pharmac is launching consultation today on a proposal to fund treatment for spinal muscular atrophy.
The drug is called risdiplam, which is taken orally once a day, and is said to significantly… Audio
Pharmac seeking feedback on lung cancer drugs
Pharmac is seeking feedback to fund two lung cancer drugs, which could treat over 400 patients in their first year of being accessible.
The drug-buying agency has reached provisional agreements with… Audio
Pharmac considering funding adrenaline injectors, SMA medication
Medicines for anaphylaxis and a rare spinal disease are set to be publicly funded.
Pharmac is looking at funding adrenaline auto-injectors - commonly known as EpiPens - for people who are at risk of… Audio
Thousands told to change blood-pressure drug over cancer risk
Drug-buyer Pharmac is urging 36,000 people taking a blood pressure drug to change to another treatment because of a cancer risk.
The agency says the drug branded Accuretic, supplied by Pfizer… Audio
Second Covid-19 booster rolled out for at risk populations
A second Covid-19 booster will be available to anyone aged over 50 today as well as any health, aged-care and disability workers over the age of 30. But is it Covid-19 or the flu back from a 2 year… Audio
Access to preventative RSV drug widened for vulnerable babies
Pharmac is making it easier for vulnerable babies, to receive a preventative treatment for respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, this winter.
Last year, a surge in cases of the potentially fatal virus… Audio
Confidential Pharmac meetings open to entire staff
Highly confidential meetings where Pharmac ranks the funding priority of potentially life saving medicines are open to its entire staff including admin workers with no medical experience.
Pharmac… Audio
Unsolved murder forces Pharmac to change NZ epilepsy drug
Some people with epilepsy will have to switch to a new medication after the current sole-supplier quits the New Zealand market later this year.
Drug-buyer Pharmac has reached an agreement with a new… Audio
Episode 5: Coup Culture (Fiji) | Untold Pacific History
This episode examines how and why Indian populations were brought to Fiji, and how the inequities under the colonial government’s Girmit system, created a society of instability and countless coups. Video, Audio
Pharmac vows to do better on future drugs changes
Pharmac is vowing to do better at informing GPs when it switches drugs - usually to save money. The chief coroner has ruled the deaths of six people were not linked to a recent epilepsy medication… Audio
Pharmac responds to concerns about medication shortages
Pharmac director of operations Lisa Williams talks to Kathryn about the Covid 19 disrupted manufacturing and supply chain which means some commonly prescribed medications are scarce. This is affecting… Audio
Kiribati, two former allies are squaring up against each other
In Kiribati, two former allies are squaring up against each other for the presidency. Audio
Coronavirus: Pharmac restricts access to hydroxychloroquine
A malaria drug touted by US President Donald Trump as a "game changer" in the fight against Covid-19 has been in high demand in New Zealand, leading Pharmac to put restrictions on its use.
The… Audio
Pharmac explains prescription paracetamol rationing
Patients face rationing of subsidised paracetamol from Monday due to international shortages related to Covid-19. Pharmac says it's inevitable there will more disruptions to other drug supplies with… Audio
Pharmac to limit prescription paracetamol
On Friday afternoon Pharmac has announced that from Monday patients will face limits on the amount of paracetemol tablets they can access via prescription in the wake of the coronavirus.
Although… Audio
Medicine rationed as Pharmac low on anti-depressant stock
The suppliers of a common anti-depressant medicine are keeping Pharmac on month-to-month rations.
Pharmac operations director Lisa Williams tells RNZ health correspondent Rowan Quinn the problem… Audio
Pharmac slow to act after deaths linked to drug brand switch
Pharmac knew for more than two weeks that three deaths had been linked to its epilepsy drug brand switch but didn't tell patients or the public.
The drug buying agency continued with the brand switch… Audio
Flu vaccines running out ahead of 'nasty' season
The flu has started hitting around New Zealand and health experts fear the outbreak could be particularly nasty this year.
In Australia, 139 people have died already - three times more than usual.
… Audio