David Seymour: Associate Health Minister on his open letter to Pharmac outlining expectations for medicines access

Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

The Associate Health Minister wants patients involved in Pharmac decision making.

David Seymour has outlined his expectations for the drug-buying agency in a letter to Board Chair Paula Bennett.

It notes Pharmac should see itself as a partner with patient advocacy groups and clinicians and work together to bring treatments to those in need.

Seymour says patients often have different views on treatments that Pharmac may have not considered.

"I think it is important to factor in information that sometimes our patients have."

Seymour has also told the agency he believes its commitment to embedding the Treaty of Waitangi isn't appropriate, and is no longer expected.

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