Dermatologists Challenge New Zealand Easing Of Acne Drug Rules
This article was originally published in PharmAsia News
Executive Summary
Dermatologists in Australia and New Zealand are fighting a decision by New Zealand's Pharmaceutical Management Agency to ease restrictions on who can administer acne drugs. Pharmac issued a ruling to allow general practitioners and not just dermatologists to administer isotretinoin, sold as Roche's Accutane in the United States. Dermatologist groups in Australia and New Zealand termed the drug potentially dangerous and said their members have been cautious about administering it. They expressed concern that general practitioners may not be as aware of the drug's safety problems, but a Pharmac director said it had weighed carefully all information about isotretinoin. (Click here for more