Paula Bennett: Pharmac Chair on the letter of expectations for the organisation from Minister David Seymour

The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Pharmac's new Chair is acknowledging those at the drug-buying agency have been publicly defensive in recent times.

Former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett's chairing the agency as it works to the Associate Health Minister's newly outlined expectations.

Among them is a directive to include patient groups in decision-making processes and enhance public trust.

Speaking to Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking, Bennett said the executive was aligned with her and Seymour’s views.

“There are different views and people have been under one letter of expectation and regime from a very different minister, so there is still a lot of discussion to go on.

“They are having to say no more than they can say yes. They do care about New Zealanders and want to deliver more medicines, but they haven’t had the budget to do that,” she said.

“As a consequence, there has been a lot of frustration and anger; as a consequence, they have perhaps closed themselves in instead of going more outward.”

Seymour’s letter indicated a view Pharmac was struggling to maintain public trust and build positive relationships with stakeholders.

His letter asked Bennett to ensure stakeholders understood “how Pharmac operates, that its legitimacy, credibility and trust is enhanced, and that all feedback and ideas are dealt with respectfully and valued”.

He added Pharmac should report to him regularly about how it was improving organisational culture and stakeholder settlement.

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