October 09, 2023
Pharmac funding woes sympton of health system stress
Associate Health Minister Peeni Henare says a funding shortfall for Pharmac is symptomatic of wider issues in the health system.
At a debate this week hosted by advocacy group Patient Voice Aotearoa, Health Minster Ayesha Verrall reiterated Labour’s manifesto promise to further increase funding for the drug buying agency.
Mr Henare acknowledged whanau Maori often don’t have the options of insurance or private funding for life saving drugs which are not on Pharmac’s list.
“What happens at Pharmac is reflected in the rest of the health system whereby our whanau don’t have access. If we don’t address those they will persist and that is why the likes of Te Aka Whai Ora have been created. That’s why iwi Maori partnership boards through legislation have been established and given powers to make sure these things are accessible to our people,” he says.
Mr Henare says the election of a National-ACT Government would be a blow to Maori advocacy in the health sector.