Drug funding withdrawals prescription for trouble, say doctors
‘Two prozac-like drugs will have Government funding withdrawn this week, prompting claims from psychiatrists that some patients could be at risk of relapsing into severe depression.
Celapram and Cipramil, which both contain citalopram, an antidepressant agent related to Prozac, will not be subsidised by drug funding agency Pharmac from Wednesday.
Instead, a cheaper alternative known as Arrow-Citalopram will be fully subsidised in a sole-supply agreement with the manufacturer.
The move, which is expected to save taxpayers about $2 million a year, will affect nearly 30,000 patients. More than 10,000 have already switched to the cheaper alternative and the rest will switch as their prescriptions run out.’
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