Government accepts patient-led proposals for improved access.
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has accepted the Valuing Life Medicines Access Summit White Paper, submitted by Patient Voice Aotearoa (PVA). The paper presents 10 suggestions for a patient-centric medicines strategy.
Seymour welcomed the document as "a call to action" and a sign of the government's commitment to hearing from patients across New Zealand. He acknowledged that funding pharmaceuticals can be life-changing or even life-or-death for many Kiwis.
The government has allocated Pharmac its largest-ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, with an additional $604 million uplift to ensure more people can access vital medicines. Seymour emphasized the need for Pharmac to focus on delivering improved health outcomes underpinned by robust data and evidence.
While progress has been made, the Minister acknowledged that further work is required to address issues raised during the summit, including adapting policy settings to meet the evolving landscape of medicines. Seymour expressed his commitment to continued engagement with patients and stakeholders to improve access to medicines in New Zealand.
The PVA White Paper can be accessed by clicking here.