Government’s instructions for Pharmac w/ University of Auckland’s Professor Paula Lorgelly: 22nd July, 2024

Last week, Associate Health Minister David Seymour released his letter to Pharmac setting out his expectations for the agency. 

Among the instructions, Seymour has received backlash over saying that it is inappropriate for Pharmac to keep considering Te Tiriti o Waitangi in its decisions.

As a result, on Friday a Pharmac director, Dr Anthony Jordan, resigned saying he “could not with good conscience” work for Pharmac following directions to stop considering Te Tiriti o Waitangi in its decisions. 

On Friday, Wire host Sofia Roger Williams spoke to professor of health economics in the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences at the University of Auckland, Paula Lorgelly, about these instructions delivered by Seymour to Pharmac and Dr Anthony Jordan’s resignation.

She began the interview asking her for an outline of what the key points of the instructions were.