A spokesperson for health lobby group Patient Voice Aotearoa says questions could be asked about whether Pharmac has ever understood what it means to operate with a Te Tiriti lens.
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has sent a new letter of expectation to the drug buying agency, saying it was inappropriate for the agency to keep considering the Treaty of Waitangi’s place in the health sector.
Malcolm Mulholland says that while that may upset some Maori, it may not have a major effect.
“I can understand why that would seem offensive. I think our perspective – when we look at Pharmac operating under a Te Tiriti lens, we have to ask ourselves the question, ‘did our people receive more medicines as a result?’. And it’s very difficult to find that connection,” he says.
Mr Mullholland says the letter points to a change in the way Pharmac assesses health technology, which could benefit Māori.
