More People To Access Cholesterol-Lowering MedicineFrom 1 September, Pharmac will widen access to four funded medicines for people with type 2 diabetes, making them available to over 30,000 more New Zealanders over the next five years. These medicines will be funded for New Zealanders with type 2 diabetes whose blood sugar levels remain high despite treatment with other funded diabetes medicines. “The final decision removes the cardiovascular risk threshold and ethnicity criteria and introduces broader access criteria based on poor blood sugar control." Everyone, including Māori and Pacific people, who would currently be able to access these medicines would meet these revised criteria. Note:Decision to widen access for type 2 diabetes medicines (https://www.pharmac.govt.nz/news-and-resources/consultations-and-decisions/2026-08-widened-access-to-diabetes-medicines)© Scoop Media