The Associate Minister of Health, David Seymour, has confirmed he supported proposed changes to access criteria for Type 2 diabetes medicines without receiving any equity analysis on the impact for Māori, modelling of Māori health complications, or data showing how many Māori currently rely on the existing pathway.
The admissions were revealed through answers to Written Parliamentary Questions and have sparked criticism from Te Pāti Māori, which says the Government is proceeding with significant changes to diabetes medicine access without understanding the consequences for Māori communities.
The proposed Pharmac changes would remove Māori and Pacific priority access provisions currently used for some Type 2 diabetes medicines.
According to Pharmac Board documents, the changes could result in up to 7,000 fewer Māori and Pacific people being eligible for the medicines. The same documents acknowledge the proposal would introduce additional requirements, including more testing and clinical appointments, which critics say could create further barriers to treatment.
Te Pāti Māori says no assessment has been undertaken into how the changes could affect rates of diabetes-related complications among Māori, including kidney disease, amputations and premature mortality.
The party also points to concerns raised by clinical experts and advisory groups during consultation on the proposal.
Board papers show the review was driven by Cabinet Circular CO(24), a Government directive requiring agencies to review the use of ethnicity-based criteria across public services and funding settings.
Māori experience some of the highest rates of Type 2 diabetes and diabetes-related complications in Aotearoa. Existing priority access criteria were introduced to address longstanding inequities in health outcomes.
Pharmac is currently consulting on the proposed changes, with submissions closing on 11 June.
Members of the public can make submissions through the Pharmac consultation website.
