In March 2019, Pharmac opted to use a sole supplier of the epilepsy drug lamotrigine, which meant from October patients on other brands of the drug instead had to use the sole funded option, Logem.
Almost immediately some patients reported adverse effects following the change in medication, and in December the chief coroner announced a joint inquest into several deaths linked to Logem.
Johanna Oliver, whose son, William, was the fourth death linked to the change in drug brands, yesterday said a report released late on Friday by Pharmac did not address the issues raised by families of people affected by the change to Logem.
William (26) died in August last year, after the Otago Polytechnic student’s seizures returned within two weeks of changing from his previous drug to Logem.
"It’s not only about the deaths. How many people have been affected by having more seizures?" Ms Oliver said.
"Will lived with me for three months beforehand and he had no seizures at all. He was all right on the previous drug, so I asked, ‘Why are they changing you?’
"He had three seizures in a row on the Friday, quite bad ones, and then he died ... he was settled, but then they went and changed it."
The Pharmac report, compiled by independent researcher Jonathan Coates, found it was appropriate that the agency considered the view of the neurological subcommittee of its own advisory body, the Pharmacology and Therapeutics Advisory Committee, and that the subcommittee’s decision-making was evidence-based and appropriate.
However, Pharmac seemingly did not consult its consumer advisory committee (CAC), which Dr Coates said was surprising.
"It seems unlikely that the CAC would have taken a position that was substantively inconsistent with the position taken by the neurological and mental health subcommittees, but that does not mean there was no need to seek the input of CAC before proceeding."
Pharmac’s decision-making and implementation processes were appropriate, but it should promote greater involvement of the CAC and be "hyper-vigilant" in explaining any drug brand changes in the future, he said.
Ms Oliver said she was awaiting the findings of the coronial inquest, but did not know how long it would take.
"In the meantime it [Logem] will stay on the shelf. That’s my concern."
