Pharmacology and Therapeutics Advisory Committee (PTAC)
PTAC's role is to provide objective clinical advice to Pharmac.
On this page
20 March 23: Record of November meeting of PTAC added
About PTAC
PTAC provides objective clinical advice to help Pharmac make decisions about how to use its funds wisely. It provides and promotes critical appraisal of the strength and quality of evidence for funding applications. This is applied rigorously, systematically, and consistently across all clinical areas.
It's made up of senior health practitioners from a range of specialities, who also regularly work with patients and their families. This means they can bring an evidence-based perspective but also provide insight on how Pharmac’s decisions apply to real people in New Zealand.
The full details of PTAC’s remit can be found in its Terms of Reference. The Terms of Reference were updated in 2021 to include the potential to have a consumer member, and increase consumer perspectives, on PTAC. Te Tiriti and health equity expertise are also more strongly centred than previously.
A recommendation from PTAC is not guarantee that Pharmac will fund the medicine. PTAC’s advice is a vital step in the process for considering all funding applications, but it is not the only consideration. Pharmac must look at the whole picture to ensure we are getting the best health outcomes for New Zealand.
Read more about our prioritisation process
We publish PTAC minutes on the website once they are agreed by the committee.
PTAC members
- Jane Thomas (Chair) – Paediatric Anaesthesia and Pain Medicine Specialist
MBChB, FANZCA, FFPMANZCA - Rhiannon Braund (Deputy Chair) – Clinical Pharmacist
PhD, BPharm, BSc (Biochemistry), FPS, FNZCP - Brian Anderson – Anaesthesia & Intensive Care Medicine Specialist
MBChB, Dip Obst, FANZCA, FCICM, PhD - Elizabeth Dennett – General Surgery - Colorectal
BMedSci, MBChB, GradDipMed, MMedSci, MAppMgt(Hlth), FRACS, FASCRS - Alan Fraser – Gastroenterologist
MBChB, MD, FRACP - Bruce King – Specialist Internal Medicine and Nephrology
MBChB, FRACP - Robyn Manuel – Consumer Member
PhD, Te Rarawa, Ngāti Kahu, Ngāti Kurī and Te Aupōuri - Jennifer Martin – Clinical Pharmacologist
MBChB, MA(Oxon.), FRACP, PhD - Stephen Munn – Transplant Surgeon
MBChB, FRACS, FACS - Giles Newton-Howes – Psychiatrist
BA, BSc, MBChB, MRCPsych, PostDip BD, FRANZCP - Lisa Stamp – Internal Medicine and Rheumatology
MBChB, FRACP, PhD, PGCertStratLdrship - Matthew Strother – Medical Oncologist
MD (USA), FRACP - Simon Wynn Thomas – General Practitioner
BMedSci (UK), MRCP (UK), MRCGP (UK), DFFP, FRNZCGP
Read the announcement of the appointment of a new chair (November 2021)
PTAC members are appointed by the Director-General of Health, in consultation with the Pharmac Board. This process is guided by an appointment protocol [PDF, 72 KB].
Interested senior health practitioners can apply directly or are nominated by professional medical bodies, such as the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners and the Royal Australasian College of Physicians. Vacancies are posted on the Pharmac careers page(external link).
PTAC's part in the funding process
PTAC's role in considering funding applications is set out in Pharmac’s Operating Policies and Procedures. Pharmac will assess the initial funding application and notify the applicant whether:
- it will be considered by PTAC
- it will be considered by a PTAC subcommittee, or
- further information is required before an assessment can be made.
Read more about how to make a funding application
If you are seeking funding for a specific patient with exceptional circumstances, you can submit a Named Patient Pharmaceutical Assessment (NPPA) application.
Deadlines for PTAC meetings
If Pharmac chooses to seek PTAC advice on a funding application, the application must have been received by the following dates to be available for consideration at one of PTAC’s four annual meetings.
Deadline for an application to be received by Pharmac, to be considered by PTAC: | PTAC’s meeting date: |
---|---|
25 November 2022 | 16 and 17 February 2023 |
23 February 2023 | 18 and 19 May 2023 |
25 May 2023 | 17 and 18 August 2023 |
24 August 2023 | 16 and 17 November 2023 |
February 2023 PTAC meeting
Applications reviewed at the February PTAC meeting were (links to Application Tracker):
- Ustekinumab(external link) as first line for ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease
- Methylnaltrexone(external link) for opioid induced constipation
- Rotigotine patches for Parkinson’s disease(external link) and restless leg syndrome(external link)
- Ketamine(external link) for palliative care patients with intractable pain not adequately controlled with opioids
- Darolutamide(external link) for high risk non-metastatic-castration resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC)
- Voretigene neparvovec(external link) for inherited retinal dystrophy caused by pathological biallelic RPE65 mutations and who have sufficient viable retinal cells as determined by the treating physician
Records of PTAC meetings
2022 PTAC records
More information
Protocol for the appointment of PTAC members [PDF, 72 KB]
Position description for PTAC members (updated 2022) [PDF, 157 KB]
Who to contact
If you have any questions regarding PTAC, please contact the PTAC Secretary at ptac@pharmac.govt.nz or +64 (0)4 916 7512.