41129 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Associate Minister of Health

41129 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Associate Minister of Health: In the Minister’s departments, ministries and agencies, if any, what savings have been identified, between 27 November 2023 and 10 July 2024?

Hon David Seymour: The Pharmac Board has been instructed by the Minister of Finance on the government's Fiscal Sustainability Programme to embed a culture of responsible spending. As part of this programme, Pharmac has considered vacancies of staffing and where a role is not essential, a hold has been put on replacement of that role. Additionally, when there has been a vacancy that has been backfilled by a contractor, the term for the contractor has been reviewed and where possible has been terminated and/or no other contractors have been engaged. Pharmac has also reviewed non-personnel cost and where possible has reduced the expenditure or deferred as much as possible.