SBC - Crown Entities

Appointments to Health Statutory Bodies
Information on a Particular Statutory Body

PHARMAC

PHARMAC's objective, as outlined in the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000 (NZPHD Act), is to secure for eligible people in need of pharmaceuticals, the best health outcomes that are reasonably achievable from pharmaceutical treatment and from within the funding provided.

PHARMAC manages a list of subsidised pharmaceuticals, the Pharmaceutical Schedule, on behalf of the Crown. Pharmaceutical suppliers may apply to PHARMAC to have a medicine listed on the Pharmaceutical Schedule for subsidy. Decisions on listing, subsidy levels and prescribing guidelines and conditions are made by the PHARMAC Board with input from independent medical experts on the Pharmacology and Therapeutics Advisory Committee (PTAC) and its specialist sub-committees, and PHARMAC's staff. Patients and consumers also have input into PHARMAC's decision-making processes through the Consumer Advisory Committee.

PHARMAC also has functions to promote the responsible use of pharmaceuticals and to manage the purchasing of hospital pharmaceuticals on behalf of District Health Boards.

The PHARMAC Board consists of up to six members appointed by the Minister of Health. All decisions relating to PHARMAC's operation are made by or under the authority of the Board. In particular, the Board members decide on the strategic direction of PHARMAC and may decide which pharmaceuticals should be subsidised and at what levels, and whether or not special conditions or guidelines are to be applied.

Decisions taken by the PHARMAC Board members, or made under the authority of the Board, incorporate a balanced view of the needs of prescribers and patients. The aim is to achieve long-term gains and efficient ways of making pharmaceuticals available to the community.

Candidate information For the Pharmac Board