top of page

National’s Pharmac pledge will not be enough

Writer's picture: Nick LeachNick Leach

Updated: Oct 30, 2023



Its not 280 million, its 70 million
National's pledget not enough

It's great to witness the democratic process in action as National, Act, NZ First, and the Greens celebrated significant victories over the weekend!


National has committed to providing an additional $280 million over the next four years for Pharmac. However, when you break it down, this amounts to just $70 million per year.


While any increase in funding for medicine is a step in the right direction, the decision to spread this commitment over four years is an attempt to make the number seem more substantial. The reality is that $70 million a year won't fully address New Zealand's ongoing medication funding challenges.


To put it into perspective, Australia spends an additional $1 billion per capita more than New Zealand, or as the National Party frames it, $4 billion over four years.


While this extra funding is undoubtedly welcome, the core issues won't be resolved until the New Zealand government is willing to make a more significant investment in the health of its people.


One noteworthy aspect of National's plan is the reintroduction of the script fee. In Australia, people contribute a significant amount for high-cost medications until they reach an annual maximum or if they are lower-income individuals or families. In New Zealand terms, this translates to an additional $200 million for medication funding.

What is essential is the establishment of a mechanism that enables Pharmac to access supplementary funds when, during the evaluation process, they identify medications that could significantly benefit the health and well-being of New Zealanders.


Comments


bottom of page