BCAC has written a submission on the Healthy Futures Pae Ora Amendment Bill, seeking to reset Pharmac’s statutory objectives. We asked for removal of the restrictive “within the amount of funding provided”, written in 1993 when Pharmac was established with the purpose of constraining spending on medicines. Like every other Crown Entity, Pharmac is already required to be financially responsible. The long-standing focus on minimal investment has prevented Pharmac from actively striving to provide modern treatments to people when they need them. We’re hoping a change in focus will lead to better access to medicines, delivering longer, healthier lives to Kiwis.
To outline new ways of working for Pharmac we have suggested additional statutory functions. These include timely processes, better collaboration and communication, transparent international benchmarking, acknowledgement of beneficial societal impacts of medical technologies, horizon scanning and innovation. We have proposed strengthening consultation requirements and a requirement for Pharmac to be advised by a consumer and patient representative committee.
