Wellington, July 22 NZPA - Government drug funding agency Pharmac is to take charge of hospital medicines. Health Minister Tony Ryall said Pharmac, which buys and manages community pharmaceuticals, would also look after hospitals -- something District Health Boards did until now.

By Maggie Tait of NZPA Wellington, April 13 NZPA - Prime Minister John Key used his lengthy meeting with United States Vice-President Joe Biden today to push for progress on free trade.

Wellington, Oct 30 NZPA - South Canterbury Finance Ltd (SCF), which has signalled a period of succession planning, today named three new independent directors to its board. They are Bill Baylis, Stuart McLauchlan and Denham Shale.

Wellington, Oct 23 NZPA - More than 170 women are now getting the 12-month course of breast cancer drug Herceptin following the extension of funding, Health Minister Tony Ryall says. At the end of August, 174 women were on the 12-month course.

Wellington, March 26 NZPA - The growing availability and use of alternate low-cost drugs can be confusing and concerning for elderly people, the Labour Party's senior citizens spokesman says.

By Maggie Tait of NZPA Wellington, Dec 10 NZPA - Prime Minister John Key does not think a decision to circumvent drug funding agency Pharmac will set a dangerous precedent.