COPD carries a significant economic and public health burden, including
hospital admissions, lost worker productivity, cost of other less effective
medicines, GP visits and ongoing therapy. SPIRIVA would substantially reduce
these costs – allowing public health effort and expenditure to be put to better
use.
Because SPIRIVA is effective in relieving symptoms, it could also provide an
opportunity to withdraw people from other less effective treatments.
In addition it can help improve exercise duration, reduce the number of "bad
days" and reduce hospital
admissions. SPIRIVA can significantly extend quality of life for COPD sufferers.
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Is SPIRIVA available
in New Zealand?
Yes. As of May 1 2003, SPIRIVA is available on prescription at a retail
pharmacy. SPIRIVA is fully funded by PHARMAC under Special Authority, so
you will need to see your doctor to find out if you quality.
If you don't qualify to have SPIRIVA funded, SPIRIVA is still available on
prescription but you will have to pay the full cost. The cost for one month's therapy should be approximately $100 - $115 (incl
GST). Pharmacy Direct has SPIRIVA available at a cost of $105 (incl GST and
freight) per month, or $300 for 3 months (incl GST and freight).
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SPIRIVA has been approved and is available in Australia, USA, Philippines and
many European
countries where it has been submitted including Denmark, Finland, the
Netherlands, United Kingdom, Germany and France.
Additional
applications are pending worldwide.
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