People will continue to have a choice of funded brands for salbutamol asthma inhalers, Government drug-funding agency PHARMAC announced today.  Medical Director Dr Peter Moodie says PHARMAC has decided to subsidise both Salamol and Ventolin at the same level of $4 per inhaler for the next two years.

The full media statement is at www.pharmac.govt.nz/pdf/080605.pdf

The Pharmaceutical Society is pleased that PHARMAC has responded to the Society's recommendation expressed in our media release last month, for Ventolin to remain on the Pharmaceutical Schedule along with Salamol.

Your Society works to ensure your voice and the interests of your patients are expressed to the relevant decision makers, and we are pleased with this outcome.