The Government is being urged to fund new drugs for bowel diseases

Pharmac hasn't funded new treatments for Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis since 2009.

A medical expert reveals these diseases are becoming more common in New Zealand.

Otago University's Richard Gearry says patients have severe symptoms and often end up in hospital.

He says many of them can't finish they're schooling or work - so they're after medicines readily available in the rest of the world.

Richard Gearry says without access to the medication, some patients are forced to have life-changing surgery where part of the gut is removed.