Today Arthritis New Zealand launches a new publication, New treatments for arthritis: assessing their values in human terms. The publication contains personal accounts of 12 New Zealanders living with arthritis and using new medicines to manage their condition.

Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in New Zealand. The 12 people were chosen because they responded very well to biological therapy. The booklet contains each patient's individual story of their struggles with inflammatory arthritis and the positive impact biological therapies have had on their day-to-day life.

Modern biological therapies for inflammatory arthritis are now used for patients where disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs no longer work. These new treatments are expensive when compared with older treatments, and are therefore rationed.

Dr Andrew Harrison, senior lecturer at the Wellington School of Medicine and clinical director and head of department at the Wellington Regional Rheumatology Unit, conceived the project. "Funding decisions don't always take into account the gains in quality of life, self-esteem and self-efficacy brought about by these treatments, which are clear to patients, their families and their health professionals," says Dr Harrison. "Instead they are based on quantitative changes in measurements of disease activity."

Sandra Kirby, chief executive of Arthritis New Zealand, hopes the publication will increase awareness of the benefits of biological therapies for people whose arthritis no longer responds to anti-rheumatic drugs.

"We welcome the current debate about whether New Zealand gets value for the money it spends on pharmaceuticals. We have study after study showing that the greatest cost of illness to the New Zealand economy is the loss of people's ability to work. And yet it is a challenge to convince funders that treatment for arthritis is value for money. This book shows the people behind the numbers: people who couldn't get out of bed and are now working full time. These drugs are a wise investment for New Zealand, both for individuals and for their communities. It's about people's lives and livelihoods."

If you would like a copy of the book, please email Elena Kutseva at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 04 472 1427.