20207 (2026). Debbie Ngarewa-Packer to the Associate Minister of Health

Written Question

Published date: 11 Jun 2026

Metadata

Document type:	Written Question
Parliament number:	54
Question number:	20207 (2026)
Question asked:	25 May 2026
Member asking:	Debbie Ngarewa-Packer
Portfolio:	Associate Minister of Health
Minister replying:	Hon David Seymour
Answer received:	08 Jun 2026
Status:	Question Answered
Reply type:	Reply
Document ID:	WQ_20207_2026
Document guid:	edab7dfe-8776-4922-9a29-4b814ef36424

20207 (2026). Debbie Ngarewa-Packer to the Associate Minister of Health: What instructions, expectations, or directions, if any, has the Minister communicated to Pharmac regarding the use of ethnicity-based criteria in medicine funding decisions?

Hon David Seymour: I have not specifically instructed Pharmac on the use of ethnicity-based criteria in medicine funding decisions, other than through my 2025 Letter of Expectations, where I asked Pharmac to give effect to the Cabinet Circular (24), which sets out the Government’s expectations regarding needs-based service provision. This requirement applies to all Government agencies.