Articles tagged with Pharmac
Pharmac's Cost Reductions for New Medicines: Minister Seymour's Positive Impact
6 days ago | 316 viewsAssociate Education Minister David Seymour supports Pharmac's decision to lower the cost of certain funded medicines in order to allocate more funding for new medicines, emphasizing the critical impact of pharmaceutical funding on the lives of New Zealanders. The annual tender process allows Pharmac to save between $30 million and $50 million annually by reducing costs of existing medicines to fund new ones. Pharmac has implemented additional consultation steps in the tender process to gather feedback from patients, healthcare professionals, and advocacy groups, aiming for a more patient-centric approach in decision-making.
Tags: David Seymour Pharmac medicines funding New Zealand annual tender generic competition patents consultation Natalie McMurtryPharmac’s New Consumer Working Group: Resetting the Patient-Pharmac Relationship for Better Health Outcomes
2 weeks ago | 319 viewsAssociate Education Minister David Seymour welcomes Pharmac's new consumer working group to improve its collaboration with health consumers, emphasizing the importance of patient input in decision-making processes. The working group, led by Dr. Malcolm Mulholland, includes members representing various health conditions, aiming to reset the relationship between Pharmac and the consumer community. The government's support includes increased funding for Pharmac to negotiate better deals for medicine and enhance access for patients and their families.
Tags: David Seymour Malcolm Mulholland Pharmac Consumer working group Patient advocacy Patient engagement Health consumers Medicines Patient Voice Aotearoa New ZealandersPharmac Innovations: Driving Access to Life-saving Medicines for Kiwis
2 weeks ago | 331 viewsAssociate Health Minister David Seymour has outlined clear expectations for Pharmac to enhance innovation and optimize services for better healthcare delivery to New Zealanders. Pharmac has made improvements in consultation processes, funding criteria adjustments, and appointed new leadership to drive positive change. The focus is on modernizing Pharmac, adopting AI technologies, engaging stakeholders proactively, and increasing transparency to ensure timely access to medicines and medical devices for all Kiwis.
Tags: David Seymour Natalie McMurtry Pharmac Kiwis New Zealanders Government AI Stakeholders Regulatory systemNew Zealand Welcomes Major Medical Conferences: Economic Boost Expected
2 weeks ago | 347 viewsRegulation Minister David Seymour and Health Minister Simeon Brown welcome ANZCA and RANZCO medical conferences coming to New Zealand in 2026, with 3300 delegates expected, generating millions in economic activity. ANZCA will bring 1500 delegates, injecting over $3 million, while RANZCO's congress will host 1800 delegates, contributing more than $2 million. The Government's move to end the prohibition on advertising medicines at conferences aims to boost the economy, provide knowledge to medical professionals, and enhance access to healthcare innovations.
Tags: Regulation Minister David Seymour Health Minister Simeon Brown ANZCA RANZCO medical conferences economic activity pharmaceutical companies medical professionalsPharmac Improves Access to Asthma Inhalers and Contraceptives | Minister Seymour's Welcome
3 weeks ago | 439 viewsAssociate Health Minister David Seymour welcomes Pharmac’s decision to improve access to asthma inhalers and long-acting contraceptives from 1 August 2025. “For the first time, Pharmac has its own Minister. Last year I outlined in my letter of expectations that Pharmac should have appropriate processes for ensuring that people, along with their carers and family, can participate in and provide input into decision-making processes around medicines – this is committed to in the Act-National Coalition Agreement,” Mr Seymour says.
Tags: David Seymour Pharmac asthma inhalers contraceptives budesonide eformoterol Mirena Jaydess Kiwis New ZealandersPharmac's Comprehensive List of Medical Devices for Public Hospitals- Enhancing Management and Transparency in Healthcare
1 month ago | 382 viewsAssociate Health Minister David Seymour has today announced that Pharmac have created their comprehensive list of medical devices which are used in public hospitals, to improve the way they manage medical devices. “Almost everyone diagnosed or treated at a public hospital relies on medical devices for their care. These can range from bandages and cotton swabs to pacemakers, hip replacements, hospital beds, and robotic surgery machines,” Mr Seymour says.
Tags: David seymour Government Hospital medical devices New zealand Pharmac SeymourEmpowering Pharmac and Medsafe with AI for Faster Medicine Access in New Zealand
1 month ago | 387 viewsAssociate Health Minister David Seymour has empowered Pharmac and Medsafe to explore the utilisation of artificial intelligence (AI) to speed up their processes. “Faster access to medicines has always been a priority of mine. For many New Zealanders, pharmaceuticals are life or death, or the difference between a life of pain and suffering or living freely,” Mr Seymour says.
Tags: David seymour Medsafe New zealand Pharmac SeymourNew Prescribing Changes for ADHD Treatment in New Zealand: Minister Doocey Welcomes Faster Access to Care
1 month ago | 473 viewsMinister for Mental Health Matt Doocey has welcomed prescribing changes that will enable GPs and nurse practitioners to diagnose and treat adults with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). “I applaud Pharmac and Medsafe’s decision to widen prescribing rules for ADHD medicines from next February, this decision will give New Zealanders faster access to assessments and treatment,” Mr Doocey says. “This is a common-sense change that will make a meaningful difference in many lives of New Zealanders.
Tags: Matt doocey Mental health Ministry of health New zealand Pharmac and medsafeNew Pharmac Chief Executive welcomed
1 month ago | 359 viewsAssociate Health Minister with responsibility for Pharmac David Seymour has welcomed Natalie McMurtry as Pharmac’s Chief Executive. Natalie McMurtry will start as Pharmac’s Chief Executive on Monday 15 September, taking over from the Acting Chief Executive, Brendan Boyle. “For the first time, Pharmac has its own Minister.
Tags: Alberta Brendan boyle David seymour Natalie Natalie mcmurtry National coalition agreement New zealand Pharmac Seymour ZealandPharmac funding u-turn for patients
1 month ago | 296 viewsAssociate Health Minister David Seymour says the oestradiol patch funding decision is an example of Pharmac’s new patient-centric approach. From December 2025 Pharmac will fund two brands of oestradiol patches, Estradot and Estradiol TDP Mylan. “Pharmac received significant feedback at the end of last year about a decision to move to Estradiol TDP Mylan as the only funded brand of oestradiol patch.
Tags: Coalition agreement David seymour Estradot National Pharmac Seymour