Associate Health Minister David Seymour has told Pharmac it is no longer required to consider "embedding Te Tiriti o Waitangi" in its work, as well as improve its organisational culture to "maintain its legitimacy, credibility and trust".
Seymour, the minister responsible for Pharmac, New Zealand's drug purchasing agency, laid out the Government's priorities in a letter of expectation to Pharmac chairperson Paula Bennett.
He today said funding for pharmaceuticals was a matter of life and death for many New Zealanders, or the difference between a "life of pain and suffering or living freely".
"Pharmac has a big job ahead. In a trying fiscal environment, we need to prioritise funding and resources and ensure Pharmac remains focused on the basic function of procuring medicine for people who need it, to the best of its abilities.
"In my letter I have made clear the need for Pharmac to focus on delivering improved health outcomes underpinned by robust data and evidence.
"One change that I have outlined is that I do not believe it is appropriate to require Pharmac to continue considering how it can contribute to embedding Te Tiriti o Waitangi across the health sector, which was an expectation in the previous 2023/24 letter."
Seymour said it needed to be ensured that decisions on medicine funding and access was informed by the expertise of health professionals.
"On this I continue to support the independent model for medicine procurement, which ensures that Pharmac operates at an arm's length from the Minister in its decision making, drawing on the appropriate expertise."
He said his letter to Bennet also made it clear he wanted Pharmac to work "in partnership" with consumers, clinicians, suppliers and the health sector to improve health outcomes for New Zealanders.
"Pharmac currently works closely and effectively with a range of people and organisations. I want this to expand, to further optimise the provision of medicines, with a focus on listening to the voice of patients and reducing barriers to make medicine delivery faster, more efficient, and more cost effective."
In the letter he wrote: "Partnership work is strengthened to ensure stakeholders understand how Pharmac operates, that its legitimacy, credibility, and trust is enhanced, and that all feedback and ideas are dealt with respectfully and valued."
Seymour said he'd also outlined there should be appropriate processes for ensuring people living with an illness, along with their carers and family, could participate in and provide input into decision-making processes around medicines.
The coalition government announced a funding increase for Pharmac, giving it a $6.9 billion budget.
Seymour said he was confident Pharmac would be able to provide what New Zealanders needed.
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