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Source: ONE News
Pharmac has marked Smoke Free Day by announcing funding for a new smoking cessation drug.
Bupropion will be made available from next month.
Medical director Peter Moodie says about 50,000 people use nicotine replacement therapy annually but he says it does not always work. He says the new drug gives people another option.
Moodie says smoking accounts for about 5000 deaths every year.
Moodie says he hopes the move will increase the number of people using anti-smoking therapies. He says smoking is one of the biggest killers of young to middle aged people in New Zealand, and that needs to change.
Moodie says the funding comes from a multi-product agreement that also includes an antiviral drug for herpes.
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