Pharmac begins actioning Equity Policy

Earlier this year, Pharmac finalised its first equity policy. This policy sets out a series of commitments Pharmac will make to achieve equitable outcomes and organisational equity.

“Under the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022, the health and disability system should be equitable," says Pharmac’s Director of Equity and Engagement, Dr Nicola Ngawati. 

"This policy signals a change in how we do our work, and highlights the need for better collaboration across agencies to achieve equitable outcomes for our communities," Ngawati says. 

One of the key outcomes from this policy was a cross-agency equity working group, bringing together staff from 11 health agencies like Pharmac, Health New Zealand, and the Ministry of Health, to other agencies that have a specific focus - like Ministry of Disabled People and the New Zealand Blood Service.

"The purpose of this group is to provide system wide thinking on how Pharmac can deliver on our strategic priorities for highest health need populations," Ngawati says. 

“It's really important for Pharmac to work closely with the rest of the health system, as the inequitable access to medicines  and medical devices extends further than just Pharmac.”

Dr Ngawati says the first hui was positive.

"The group talked about similar equity challenges we face, and recognised the valuable opportunities we can provide by working together and sharing resources and information." 

"We also talked about the need for us to better understand the lived experience of highest health needs groups," Ngawati says.

This group works alongside Pharmac’s internal network and will continue this work in 2025.