Pharmac Gluten Free Foods Subsidy Decision

11 May 2011

The Pharmac board has made a decision regarding the subsidy for gluten free foods. See pages 25 and 26 of the document below:

Pharmac Notification of Special Foods Decision (348 KB)

What does this mean to those with a special foods authority number?

Nothing will change. No new products will be listed. The subsidy will not be increased.

Can we still roll out the Hospital to Home programme with other DHBs?

The DHBs are unlikely to move forward with the current Hospital to Home distribution costs.

What happens now?

Summary

The Pharmac board has made a decision and it cannot be overturned but we have the opportunity to find a better, more suitable way to give all our coeliac members (not only those who have diagnosis by biopsy) a lesser cost for their gluten free food – which would add another benefit to becoming a member and hopefully retain some sort of benefit from Pharmac.

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