June 06, 2023
Rongoa bill needing political medicine
Opposition health spokesperson Shane Reti says rongoa Maori could create a headache for the Government when the Therapeutics Product Bill is reported back to the House this week.
While he can’t discuss what the select committee will recommend, he says the bill drew more than 16,000 submissions, including about 700 on the inclusion of rongoa Maori.
Many submitters cited Waitangi Tribunal findings or raised concerns rongoa should be authorised by Maori, not Medsafe.
“A wide range of views on this and this has become particularly problematic for the Government wit their stated intention to require market authorisations for all medicines, medical devices and natural health products. This is a problem for them they are going to have to address,” Dr Reti says.
National will make its position clear when the Bill is reported back.