Pharmac has decided to disband its Māori advisory group. Paula Bennett, the chairperson of the drug funding agency, stated that the board wants to focus on other partnerships with Māori health organizations. These groups include four Māori health professional bodies, iwi Māori Partnership Boards, and the Hauora Māori Advisory Committee in the Ministry of Health.
Bennett said, “Pharmac aims to make sure all New Zealanders get the medicines and medical devices they need. Working well with Māori is still a priority, and the board is looking at the best ways to do this.” She informed the co-chairs of the advisory group about the decision on October 18.
Te Rōpū was created in 2022 after a negative review of Pharmac’s work and health outcomes for Māori, Pacific people, and those with disabilities. Advice from Te Rōpū led to a new approach to funding diabetes treatments, according to former director Dr. Anthony Jordan.
In July, associate health minister David Seymour said it was “inappropriate” for Pharmac to consider the Treaty of Waitangi in health decisions. This caused Jordan to resign, as he felt he could not work for an agency that ignored the Treaty. He highlighted that Māori people face worse health outcomes compared to Pākeha, which is well-documented.
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