39183 (2024). Ingrid Leary to the Associate Minister of Health

39183 (2024). Ingrid Leary to the Associate Minister of Health: Does the Minister agree with Hawke's Bay GP Samantha Newman's survey, of over 2000 people affected by a shortage of estrogen patches (for hormone replacement therapy), that 80% of the respondents said it affected their mental health; if so, what, if anything, will he do to address this?

Hon David Seymour: I acknowledge that a number of New Zealanders have been affected by the shortage of estrogen patches due to global supply issues. Pharmac operates independently of the Ministers and Associate Ministers of Health. For that reason, I am unable to intervene in Pharmac’s procurement process. However, I have confidence that Pharmac is doing everything it can to manage this global supply issue.