Pharmacology and Therapeutics Advisory Committee (PTAC)

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
• Brian Anderson – Anaesthesia & Intensive Care Medicine Specialist
  MBChB, Dip Obst, FANZCA, FCICM, PhD
• Rhiannon Braund (Deputy Chair) – Clinical Pharmacist
  PhD, BPharm, BSc (Biochemistry), FPS, FNZCP
• Matthew Dawes – Physician and Clinical Pharmacologist
  BSc, MB BS, MRCP, 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
• Liza Lack – National Clinical Lead General Practice Education at Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners
  BMed Sci, MB,BS,DRCOG,DFFPA,DCH,PG Dip GP (Hons),Dip Strategic Management (Hons),Master Health Science
• Robyn Manuel – Consumer Member
  BSc, MSc (1st class), PhD (Chemistry), PGDip.Public Health, Dip.Te Reo Maori, GradDip.Teaching (Secondary). Te Rarawa, Ngāti Kahu, Ngāti Kurī and Te Aupōuri
• John Mottershead – Consultant Neurologist
  FRACP, FRCP BM BCh, BA (oxon), MSc (Distinction)
• Stephen Munn – Transplant Surgeon
  MBChB, FRACS, FACS
• Lisa Stamp – Internal Medicine and Rheumatology
  MBChB, FRACP, PhD, PGCertStratLdrship
  
• Matthew Strother – Medical Oncologist
  MD (USA), FRACP
• Paul Vroegop – Child & Adolescent Liaison Psychiatrist and Specialist Pain Medicine Physician
  MBChB, FRANZCP, FFPMANZCA
• Simon Wynn Thomas – General Practitioner
  BMedSci (UK), MRCP (UK), MRCGP (UK), DFFP, FRNZCGP

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. 

Read more about the NPPA process 

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. 

August 2023 PTAC meeting

Applications to be reviewed at the September PTAC meeting are (links to Application Tracker):

• P-000935 - Secukinumab for ankylosing spondylitis, 1st biologic line(external link)
• P-001839 - Memantine hydrochloride for dementia, 1st line(external link)
• P-001840 - Memantine hydrochloride for dementia, moderate, cholinesterases not tolerable(external link)
• P-001875 - Belimumab for lupus nephritis in adult patients as an add-on therapy to standard of care(external link)
• P-001892 - Upadacitinib for Crohn's disease, severe, after prior biologics(external link)
• P-001911 - Budesonide, glycopyrronium and formoterol (eformoterol) for maintenance treatment to prevent exacerbations, relieve symptoms in adults with moderate, severe, or very severe COPD(external link)
• P-001964 - Cladribine for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis to reduce the frequency of clinical relapses and to delay the progression of physical disability(external link)
• P-001971 - Guselkumab as first-line biologic, psoriatic arthritis where DMARDs are not effective(external link)

Records of PTAC meetings

2023 PTAC records

PTAC Record - 2023-02 (published 21 June 2023) [PDF, 637 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.