Hospital to trial private drug plan

Southland cancer patients may soon be able to buy unfunded drugs and have them administered at Southland hospital.

At present, public hospital patients who wish to buy medication above those funded by the Government have to travel to other centres, sometimes as far as the North Island, to have them administered.

Yesterday, the Southland District Health Board approved a year-long pilot scheme to allow local administration, pending approval from Health Minister Tony Ryall.

Last week, the Otago board also voted in favour of the proposal.

Hospital advisory committee chairman Tim Ward said it was expected about 12 people in Otago and Southland would take part in the scheme.

Board member Susie Johnstone said the proposal presented ethical difficulties and it was important to ensure there was no subsidisation either way. "We can't be subsidising private care with public funds or playing Robin Hood."

Chairman Paul Menzies said the appropriate time to evaluate the scheme was after the year-long pilot was completed.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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