
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.
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