Responsible use of medicines

Legislated objective

The Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022 says it’s part of our role to promote the responsible use of medicines.

For us, responsible use means everyone has a fair opportunity to get the funded treatments that are best for them.

Matui delivers

We have contracted Matui Limited to deliver educational resources for primary care clinicians. These tools support and promote the responsible use of medicines and behavioural change.

You can find their work on their website HeAkoHiringa.co.nz(external link)

A key focus of our collaboration with Matui is health access equity. We know Māori and Pacific peoples have less access to the medicines Pharmac funds. There are a range of factors causing this.

Everyone in the health sector has a duty to address inequity in their work.

Supported by clinical experts

Te Pātaka Whaioranga – Pharmac maintains the Responsible Use Advisory Group to inform our work with Matui. The group can have up to 10 members who are active clinicians with experience in the New Zealand health sector. They also have collective expertise in:

• upholding and applying the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi
• applying a strategic and national focus to their work
• providing health services to the priority populations (including Māori and Pacific peoples)
• clinical workforce development or education
• health equity or indigenous data sovereignty
• designing or informing behavioural change.

More about the members of the group(external link)

More information

To see the results of our collaboration, check out He Ako Hiringa(external link). The content is always growing.