NZ government to continue funding for rare diseases

The New Zealand Parliament Associate Minister of Health Julie Anne Genter said that PHARMAC, the government agency which determines public funding for pharmaceuticals, will continue trial-specific funds for rare diseases this year and the NZ$5 million ($3.7 million) fund for rare diseases into next year. The comments were made during a parliament meeting held Thursday in New Zealand.

The patient advocacy group New Zealand Organisation for Rare Disorders (NZORD) claims that the government was to create a four-year, NZ$20 million ($14.8 million) fund based on an election announcement last year by the Labour Party. On Tuesday, NZORD said that the government notified the group that this fund was "off the table."...