Pharmac considers tampon funding

Pharmac is considering funding women's hygiene products as the cost leaves some resorting to rags and old clothing as an alternative.

The government funding body is considering an application, made by a private citizen last year.

Pharmac chief executive Steffan Crausaz told RNZ the first step would be to determine whether tampons fall within the boundary of what the agency can fund, limited to medicines and therapeutic medical devices.

He acknowledged there was a "fairly substantial amount of money going on women's product" in some families, and said some women were even turning to rags, old clothing and tea towels as alternatives.

Last year the Salvation Army helped launch a campaign with Countdown seeking donations of sanitary items for vulnerable women.

Source: AAP.

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4 comments

It's about time.

Posted on 20-02-2017 21:58 | By TheCameltoeKid

Why did it take so long? ObviouslyPharmac has been an organisation run by men. Only 50 years to late. Don't conside the funding just bloody fund it!


Better

Posted on 21-02-2017 09:53 | By overit

I think Pharmac could use the money to fund other things, like expensive drugs for cancer patients.


All verry nice

Posted on 21-02-2017 11:14 | By Bop man

But how about funding life saving items like the EPI PEN. All very nice funding tampons but is not going to save a life.


I had to double check............

Posted on 21-02-2017 12:54 | By The Hobbit

.............the date because I thought it was the 1st April!!! Seriously, this has to be a joke. Why the hell should the tax payer have to fund this? I wonder if the reporter of this article realises that the use of rags (and other material) is often a cultural thing as opposed to females being unable to afford sanitary products. I also wonder how many females who say they can't afford such products smoke, drink and take drugs? Hopefully Pharmec IS run by men and that common sense prevails in the end.


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