53234 (2025). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Associate Minister of Health

Written Question

Published date: 26 Nov 2025

Metadata

Document type:	Written Question
Parliament number:	54
Question number:	53234 (2025)
Question asked:	12 Nov 2025
Member asking:	Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall
Portfolio:	Associate Minister of Health
Minister replying:	Hon David Seymour
Answer received:	20 Nov 2025
Status:	Question Answered
Reply type:	Reply
Document ID:	WQ_53234_2025
Document guid:	8550d36a-c202-4a0c-9a4d-0562f761301b

53234 (2025). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Associate Minister of Health: How much additional funding, if any, did Pharmac receive to meet the increased costs associated with greater dispensing volumes after the introduction of free prescriptions on 1 July 2023?

Hon David Seymour: Pharmac received a total of $21.8 million in 2023/24 for the increased demand for medicines resulting from the removal of the $5 prescription co-payments for all New Zealanders over the age of 14.