Christmas miracle for cystic fibrosis community

Pharmac has announced an agreement to fund Trikafta for those aged six years and over. Image: Suppled.


Cystic Fibrosis NZ - CFNZ - have released a statement saying that after two and a half years of advocating for public funding of Trikafta, they are "absolutely thrilled" that Pharmac and Vertex have reached a provisional agreement to fund Trikafta for people with cystic fibrosis aged six years and over who are eligible.

'There just aren't the words to convey what this means for our community. Funding Trikafta will bring life-changing benefits to people with CF, their families, whānau, the wider community, and our health system," says CFNZ CEO Lisa Burns.

Lisa says in August 2022, Pharmac acknowledged that Trikafta could give people with cystic fibrosis benefits equivalent to 27 more years at full health when compared to current supportive treatments, with real world data reinforcing that Trikafta reduces the risk of hospitalisations, lung transplants, and premature death.

People with cystic fibrosis - CF - can now thrive and have a future where they live life on their own terms.

"Today is a major milestone that will deliver access to a medicine which will prolong the lives of hundreds of Kiwis with CF," says Lisa.

"New Zealand will now join the more than 30 other countries where Trikafta is funded. Our community no longer need to leave Aotearoa to access this medicine, and those who have already left can now come home to be with their families and whānau.”

Cystic Fibrosis NZ CEO Lisa Burns. Photo: Supplied.

Vertex applied to Pharmac in July 2021 to have Trikafta funded in New Zealand for people with CF aged 6 years and over.

'The last 16 months has been a rollercoaster for our CF community. But this latest news means there is now light at the end of this tunnel,” says Lisa.

Wellington mum, Nicci Hughson whose 10 year old daughter Nora will be eligible for Trikafta once it's funded says 'We are totally overwhelmed by the news; we'd given up on thinking Trikafta would be funded in New Zealand in the next few years.

"Nora is ten, and we'd talked about the prospect of moving overseas to get access to Trikafta if it wasn't funded by the time she turns 12. It's a huge relief knowing that our little girl will have fewer chest infections, hospitalisations, less treatment, her sinuses could improve, meaning she'll get more sleep.

"Knowing she will live for longer, and feel better while she does that. Nora is old enough to know what CF is, she knows she's different, and knows that without medication like Trikafta, she might not live as long as her friends," says Nicci.

Cystic Fibrosis NZ wants to acknowledge the collective effort of the CF community for the extraordinary amount of commitment and courage in sharing their very personal experiences with the public, Government, Pharmac and Vertex to help get this over the line.

'An incredible amount of resilience, aroha and mahi has gone into campaign. The news will be overwhelming, and it will take time for the reality to sink in about what it means for people with CF and their families, and the additional years they will now have ahead of them,” says Lisa.

'Trikafta should now be the trailblazer to show how modern medicines like this can be funded in New Zealand. We cannot forget those who are still desperately waiting for life-saving medicines. We need to urgently work towards a framework that delivers a fair and equitable system where funding medicines is seen as an investment rather than a cost.”

'CFNZ and our CF community have held on tight to the hope that one day this would happen and now we have the Christmas miracle we hoped for.”

Cystic Fibrosis NZ is a charity dedicated to supporting the CF community by providing information, advice, and financial assistance to those with CF and their families throughout their journey with CF.

Cystic Fibrosis NZ also advocate for access to world class medical care and modern medicines.

The team of CFNZ social workers visit and support families in their homes and medical settings. They provide parent-to-parent support, vouchers and allowances during hospitalisations, welfare assistance during hardship, medical equipment, assistance towards organ transplant costs and, when necessary, end of life support.

Cystic Fibrosis NZ also supports a comprehensive data registry containing clinical and other information about those with CF in New Zealand. The data registry provides an invaluable source of information to support assessment of health needs and applications for funding of medicines.

Cystic Fibrosis NZ receives less than 4 per cent government funding and relies on the generosity of New Zealanders to meet the ongoing needs of the CF community.

To support CFNZ go to www.cfnz.org.nz

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