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Source: PHARMAC

Pharmac is trialling a new process to publish provisional outcomes from advisory committee meetings within 30 business days.

Pharmac works closely with our Pharmacology and Therapeutics Committee (PTAC), specialist advisory committees and other advisory groups that make up our Expert Advisory Network to get expert advice on medicines being considered for funding and medical devices we procure.

The advisory committees have expertise in areas ranging from special foods, mental health and rheumatology to immunisations and cancer treatments. They meet as required to discuss and provide recommendations on the medicines we’re looking to fund and provide ongoing advice on issues such as supply shortages, changes for medicines we already fund and how to implement consultation feedback. 

“We know how important it is to patients, clinicians and suppliers to get this information as soon as possible. However, we also want to ensure the record accurately reflects the advice provided and this takes time. We’re working on ways to achieve this more quickly,” says acting Pharmaceuticals Manager Expert Advisory, Caroline De Luca.

“The information being discussed is highly technical and it’s important that we reflect that discussion accurately.”.

To improve timeliness, Pharmac is trialling a new process where the provisional recommendations of a meeting are published sooner, while the review process for the full record is underway.  

“Sharing the provisional outcome of the meeting sooner does not directly impact funding timeframes,” says De Luca. “But it does mean you will know if a medicine is likely to be assessed and prioritised for funding much sooner.”

In some cases, the person or supplier that applied to have a medicine considered for funding may request that provisional recommendations are withheld until the full meeting record is available.

“Expert advice plays a key role in determining which medicines Pharmac assesses and informs how each medicine is ranked on the options for investment list,” says De Luca.

“We know patients and clinicians waiting for medicines to be funded want to know these recommendations sooner, and it helps suppliers plan too. We’ve been encouraged by the positive response to this trial so far.

This pilot is part of Pharmac’s work to increase transparency. A review will be undertaken at the end of this year, and feedback received will help inform improvements. We would love to hear from you. Please send your feedback to enquiries@pharmac.govt.nz

Source: New Zealand Government

Mr President, colleagues.

Tēnā koutou katoa. It is an honour to address you today on behalf of New Zealand.

When the Paris Agreement was adopted ten years ago, Parties committed to goals that limit the impacts of climate change on lives and livelihoods.

Ten years on, we have seen significant progress, and we are firmly in the era of implementation. 

But we need to press forward, and we must keep 1.5 alive. 

Mr President, New Zealand is committed.

We were one of the first eight countries in the world to have submitted a second Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), that is ambitious, achievable, informed by the Global Stocktake, and in accordance with Paris Agreement rules. 

We are committed to transparency arrangements, which are critical to mutual trust.

And we provide high-quality, grants-based, accessible, partner-responsive climate support, with over half going to adaptation action.

We urge all Parties to follow suit and implement. All Parties must submit NDCs that reflect the urgency of the movement, and all Parties with the capacity to do so must provide support to those who need it most.

We recognise economies are under strain, but every step of progress helps us maintain momentum.

Mr President, the Blue Pacific Continent has long led the world with its climate ambition.

In the Pacific, climate change is not a distant threat; it is a lived reality.

Next year, COP31 in the Pacific would be an opportunity to deliver global climate solutions, built on the experience of some of those on the front lines.

New Zealand proudly supports Australia’s commitment to host COP31 in partnership with the Pacific and calls on others to confirm their support. 

Mr President, a low-emissions and climate-resilient economy is central to economic prosperity. 

New Zealand is accelerating the deployment of renewable energy at a faster pace than ever before. 

In October, we saw weeks where our electricity was 98% renewable. We have commissioned more renewable generation in the last 18 months than in the previous 15 years, helping us double that capacity by 2050.

Our farmers are among the most carbon-efficient globally, and we are leading in agricultural innovation.

Our Emissions Trading Scheme is one of the most comprehensive globally.

And in the last month, we agreed to legislate a climate adaptation framework to address long-term strategic factors, including clear roles, investment in risk reduction, and cost-sharing. This is one of the world’s first of its kind.

Mr President, the response to climate change must be inclusive and supportive of all voices and leadership, as we cannot solve this challenge alone.

I am proud that a delegation of New Zealand’s young Māori leaders is here at COP30 – sharing their stories and commitment to action.

Mr President, you introduced us to ‘mutirao’, which speaks to the shared work that builds up our people.

This resonates with us. New Zealand – our young people, business, and civil society – stand ready to partner with all Parties to take action: at home, in the Pacific, and globally.

Thank you.

Source: PHARMAC

In September Natalie McMurtry joined Pharmac as our new Chief Executive. We spoke with her about her background, what drew her to Pharmac, and what she hopes to achieve in her new role.

“I’m honoured to be Pharmac’s new Chief Executive and excited to be part of an organisation that plays such an important role in the health and wellbeing of New Zealanders,” says McMurtry.

McMurtry brings over 25 years of experience as a front-line clinician and senior health leader in Canada. She began her career as a paediatric critical care pharmacist before moving into strategic and operational leadership roles across Alberta’s health system – including responsibility for Alberta’s public drug program. Her governance experience includes serving on the boards of Canada’s Drug Agency and the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance.

“While every country’s health system is unique, the fundamentals remain the same – people need access to medicines to help them stay well,” she says.

“Throughout my career, I’ve focused on improving access to quality health care, including medicines, and ensuring that patients and their families are at the centre of decision-making.

“Joining Pharmac offered a unique opportunity to draw on my health leadership experience and contribute to an organisation resetting its focus to be more patient-centred and outward-looking.”

McMurtry describes her leadership style as upfront, transparent and empathetic. In her first few months, she’s been focused on listening and learning – meeting with staff, patients and their advocates, suppliers, Pharmac’s Board, the Minister of Health, and other key partners across the health system.

“I want Pharmac to be seen as an organisation that has the backs of patients and their families,” she says. “We need to be transparent and inclusive – and that means listening to people with lived experience and working in partnership with the wider health system.”

McMurtry has prioritised connecting with those most affected by Pharmac’s decisions. In October she attended the Valuing Life: New Zealand Medicines Access Summit – an early opportunity to meet with suppliers and consumers – and the monthly consumer update forum, where patient advocates engage directly with senior leaders, ask questions, and share their perspectives.

She has also been meeting with Pharmac’s Consumer and Patient Working Group and the Consumer Advisory Committee, both of which provide valuable lived experience to inform Pharmac’s work.

Looking ahead, McMurtry says she is excited about the opportunities and is focused on leading Pharmac in a collaborative and people-centred way.

“We have a talented and passionate team here,” she says. “I’m looking forward to supporting them and helping Pharmac continue to grow as a trusted and responsive organisation.”

Pharmac’s Board Chair, Paula Bennett, said of McMurtry’s appointment:

“Natalie stands out as a leader who is very experienced, empathetic, capable and determined. She has known the Pharmac model for years from afar and jumped at the opportunity to lead this wonderful organisation. She is a very considered person who respects and values our people.”

Source: PHARMAC

The Medicines Access Summit was a great opportunity to hear first-hand from patient advocates, suppliers, clinicians and others and make connections, says Pharmac Chief Executive, Natalie McMurtry.

“I was really pleased to be able to attend the summit in October, alongside our Board Chair Hon Paula Bennett as well as three other board members, our Senior Leadership Team and several other staff.”

Hosted by the Associate Minister of Health, Hon David Seymour, and aiming to address critical issues in medicine access the summit brought together a wide range of stakeholders including patient advocates, clinicians, health officials, suppliers, academics and politicians.

Some of the key themes were:

• How New Zealand can sustainably fund access to an increasing number of modern medicines in a publicly funded health system.
• How can Pharmac bring greater transparency and understanding around our processes and the decisions we make.
• How we could enhance Pharmac’s decision-making, prioritisation, funding policies, and processes in the face of rising demand for modern medicines.
• Current legislative reform underway (Pae Ora, Medicines amendment bill) and how we might modernise Pharmac’s statutory functions.

“I’d like to acknowledge the incredible amount of work Dr Malcolm Mulholland, Patient Voice Aotearoa and Medicines New Zealand put into organising this event. Rachel Smalley also did a wonderful job as MC,” McMurtry says. Mulholland and Smalley are members of Pharmac’s Consumer and Patient Working Group, as Chair and Deputy Chair.

“The constructive conversations held over the two days were invaluable. Many different voices at the summit all came together with a shared goal – improving access to medicines for all New Zealanders.”

Source: PHARMAC

Pharmac’s Consumer and Patient Working Group, in collaboration with Pharmac staff, has successfully completed the first 90-day action plan of the 12-month Reset Programme.

The Reset Programme is the first phase of Pharmac’s five-year improvement journey, focused on delivering meaningful change for consumers and patients, while laying the groundwork for long-term reform.

“The reset programme supports Pharmac to be a more outward-focussed and transparent organisation that values and actively engages with consumers and stakeholders, we’re focused on putting patients and their families at the centre of everything we do,” says Pharmac Chief Executive, Natalie McMurtry.

The first 90-day plan, which ran from 1 July to 30 September 2025, began with the appointment of a 10-member Consumer and Patient Working Group, chaired by patient advocate Dr Malcolm Mulholland. Four key actions were completed:

Source: PHARMAC

In late September the Government announced changes to the procurement of hospital medical devices in New Zealand to reduce costs, duplication and confusion.

Pharmac and Health NZ will be responsible for procuring devices that are most focused on their capabilities and expertise.

The changes will help industry stakeholders understand which agency to work with on different types of medical devices.

“This decision is about providing clarity for suppliers, reducing duplication, and making the system work better for everyone,” says Pharmac’s Director of Medical Devices, Catherine Epps.

Pharmac and Health NZ worked together to identify which of the 55 categories of medical devices they should each be responsible for. Pharmac will lead procurement for 27 categories, while Health NZ will lead 28.

Pharmac will generally be the lead agency for devices that have a direct therapeutic impact on patients and that need a high level of clinical input. For instance, this includes surgical implants and anaesthetic machines.  

“This change leverages the strength of both agencies,” says Epps. “A clear split of responsibilities will also provide the transparency and certainty that suppliers have been asking for.”

Health NZ will generally be the lead agency for high-volume devices that can be standardised across hospitals. This includes things such as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and continence products.

Health NZ will also be responsible for procuring devices that need to be integrated into hospital infrastructure, such as MRIs and CT scanners.

As part of this new arrangement, Pharmac will also deliver high-quality, independent assessments to support access to new and innovative devices.

“We’ve received a clear direction from Ministers in the form of a joint Letter of Expectations for Pharmac and Health New Zealand,” Epps says.

The Government expects Pharmac and Health NZ to work together to develop joint priorities and develop an annual medical device plan, as well as create more opportunities for early engagement with suppliers and clinicians.

“We’re looking forward to working closely with Health NZ on the future of hospital medical device procurement,” Epps says.

Source: PHARMAC

Pharmac is focussed on being a more outward-focused and transparent organisation; and one of the ways we are doing that is by improving how we share information.

“We’ve received consistent feedback asking us to improve how we share information about our funding processes,” says Adrienne Martin, Director Pharmaceuticals. “We’ve taken that on board.”

The $604 million budget uplift for the 2024/25 financial year was an early opportunity to improve engagement. It was the largest funding increase in Pharmac’s history.

“It was a significant amount of funding to allocate very quickly, while keeping people informed at each stage of the process,” says Martin. “We introduced new tools which helped us do this better.,

One of these tools was a dedicated funding uplift webpage, so health professionals and the public could see all of the funding proposals and consultations underway in real time – Progress to funding cancer and other medicines(external link).

“We wanted to clearly show what was being consulted on, what feedback was considered, and what medicines had been funded.”

Pharmac is exploring how we continue using this approach following positive feedback.

Pharmac also received feedback by working closely with other organisations, such as Health New Zealand and the Cancer Control Agency.  

“We received substantial feedback on funding proposals from affected people, their families, consumer advocacy groups, and health care professionals. It helped to make sure we were considering the right things and led to a number of changes to our proposals,” says Martin.

Some examples of the changes made to funded medicines included:

• We consulted on funding pembrolizumab(external link) for first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer. In response to feedback, we funded pembrolizumab as a second-line option as well.
• We consulted on funding cetuximab(external link) with chemotherapy for people with metastatic colorectal cancer. In response to feedback, we updated the criteria so cetuximab can be used on its own, without chemotherapy.
• We consulted on funding osimertinib(external link) for people with a type of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In response to feedback, we updated the eligibility criteria to improve access.
• We consulted on funding treatments for stage III and IV melanoma(external link). In response to feedback about the role of immune checkpoint inhibitors in reducing melanoma treatments side effects, access to infliximab and tocilizumab was widened.
• We consulted on funding trastuzumab deruxecan(external link) for people who have metastatic breast cancer. In response to feedback, we changed the access criteria to allow people to change between trastuzumab deruxtecan and trastuzumab emtansine if needed.
• We consulted on funding a budesonide, glycopyrronium, and eformoterol(external link) aerosol inhaler for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In response to feedback, we negotiated an agreement to supply an inhaler that uses an alternative propellant with a significantly lower environmental impact.
• We consulted on funding palivizumab for severe illness caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)(external link), for infants and young children at very high risk of RSV. In response to feedback, we amended the access criteria to better capture high risk children.

“We know we’re not going to always get our proposals 100% right,” says Martin. “We’re always open to feedback. We can’t fix what we don’t know, so we’re very grateful when new information to consider is raised with us.”

Contact enquiry@pharmac.govt.nz if you have any suggestions for how we can improve the information we share about funding consultations and decisions.