Posted by Michael Wonder on 17 Jan 2022
PHARMAC - 2021 in review
17 January 2022 - PHARMAC released its Year in Review for 2021 in late December.
The publication states "During the year, we funded 13 new medicines and widened access to 19, building on the approximately 2,000 medicines already subsidised by the Government."
The publication does not list these 13 new medicines, let alone the 19 medicines with widened access. As such, one cannot validate these claims.
How can one reconcile this lack of transparency with the agency's press release date 2 December 2021 that states that its accepts many of the observations made in the Interim Report and is already making changes to how it operates?
Apparently, PHARMAC set a new strategic direction a year ago. The focus areas include (among others):
- Making everyday work faster, simpler and more transparent
- Increasing the public’s understanding, trust and confidence in the work PHARMAC is doing
Sadly, it doesn't look like much progress has been made.
