Government health-funding body Pharmac has sent health experts a letter confirming that old "brown" type asthma inhalers manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) were being withdrawn but that another inhaler containing the same drug would be made available.
Three beclomethasone brands of inhaler, Becotide Junior, Becotide 100 and Becloforte, which use chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
as a propellant, will be withdrawn this year.
The inhalers, used daily by up to 75,000 New Zealanders after introduction about 30 years ago, reduce asthma symptoms.
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) was phasing out the inhalers, available here since 1973, to comply with the Montreal protocol on the reduction of CFCs.
Pharmac wrote to clinicians and pharmacists saying the old inhalers would be available until October, the Asthma and Respirator Foundation magazine's June issue reported.
In the letter Pharmac said it expected to be able to supply Air Flow CFC-free beclomethasone inhalers subject to an advisory committee and MedSafe approval. Air Flow is a subsidiary of the foundation.
GSK's alternative used a different chemical -- Fluticasone -- in its Flixotide inhalers that did the same thing as beclomethasone but was more expensive.
In the letter Pharmac said it did not agree with GSK's claims that Flixotide provided 'superior asthma control' to the three brands being withdrawn.
Pharmac concluded that there was no need to switch patients to a new product yet.
The Free Flow inhaler will be fully funded and Flixotide inhalers already were, a Pharmac spokesman confirmed to NZPA.
- NZPA
