Pharmac releases final response to Review

“The independent Review of Pharmac was an opportunity for us to reflect on what we do, how we do it, and where we can make improvements for the benefit of all New Zealanders,” says Chief Executive Sarah Fitt.

“To everyone who has contributed to and worked on this response, and those who challenge us to be better, thank you. We have entered a new phase of our response – we are now making real changes to what we do, so that we can make the improvements identified in the Review

“The Review’s focus was wide – covering our functions, governance, assessment activities, work to support priority populations, accountabilities, and our decision-making processes. It found that our current model does deliver significant benefits. However, those benefits must be shared more equitably across communities – especially Māori and Pacific communities and people living with disabilities.”

There are 30 actions we committed to in the interim response – these are part of our final response. We have reflected on our priorities, our strengths, and our weaknesses, with our new organisational values, Ngā Uaratanga(external link), helping us to imagine our future.”

“Four key themes were identified in our interim response which evolved into the five priorities presented in our final response. These priorities are connected and interrelated, and only when fully woven together will they help us achieve better health outcomes for Aotearoa.”

The five priorities are:

• Enhancing assessment and decision-making
• Striving for and achieving Te Tiriti o Waitangi excellence
• Doing more to achieve health equity
• Better involvement of and collaboration with others
• Better integrating our responsibilities

We have already made significant progress within the actions we committed to.  Several of these are highlighted in our first Kauneke Update(external link), a quarterly sector update – the first of which was released today. We are also currently developing our Statement of Intent for 2024-2027, and the work programmes that will underpin and give full effect to the commitments we have made in response to the Review,” says Ms Fitt.

“An important part of our Review response is making sure our strengths, resources, and capabilities match what we want to achieve. Our work has expanded over the years. We are now kaitiaki for more than $2 billion of taxpayers’ money we use to fund about 2000 medicines, vaccines, devices and related products. We also oversee national contracts for around 159,000 medical devices covering over $500 million of spending by Te Whatu Ora hospitals.”

“Thank you to the many agencies, groups, and individuals who have shared their experiences and knowledge as part of the Review. It has helped us better understand how we can support the health of all New Zealanders.”

“We are really proud of the work we do, and the benefits we deliver to all people in New Zealand,” says Ms Fitt. “We look forward to progressing with our objectives, working more closely with the rest of the health sector, and building a better Pharmac every day.”