Post by CrashPost by Rich80105Post by CrashPost by Rich80105https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/02-07-2024/the-government-has-discovered-pharmac-what-should-it-find-next
Once again a journalist ignores a couple of key facts: National never
put a timescale on the '13 treatments' (either in their policy
statement of in the coalition agreement with NZF) and neither did they
specify that they were drugs. The timescale is therefore the same as
that for the coalition agreements: the current Parliamentary term.
I don't see any odium going to the previous Labour government for not
promising or delivering any such treatments or drugs.
For the record I don't support what the government has done in setting
a new precedent for Pharmac funding. Pharmac has always made the
decision on what drugs to buy. These funds could have been provided
with ring fencing to spend on cancer-mitigation drugs not currently
funded - leaving Pharmac to get the best deal on the drugs they decide
to fund with this money.
The article did not claim that there had been a timescale, but did
point out why some were upset that it was not included in the budget.
Duh! Being upset at the absence from the budget 2024 clearly
indicates that there was a timescale that has been breached. The
article did not point this out, and in doing so supports the view that
there was a timescale.
Of course there was a timescale - those with cancer, some of whom were
raising money through the internet, were desperate to get the
medicines to try to save their lives! Are you surprised that they
were upset when it wasn't even mentioned in the Budget?
Post by CrashPost by Rich80105The article then pointed out that it took some time for Luxon to
discover that Pharmac had quite a good purchasing regime that he
appears to have been unaware of - and then goes on to list a few other
areas where Luxon and his Ministers may benefit from looking at what
else they may achieve by using already existing structures. It is
tough coming into government with nearly no knowledge of how
government works, but it is good that in only a few months after the
fuss over the budget that did not include the cancer treatments, Luxon
does seem to have learned something . . .
All pure, politically-motivated, speculation. The authors of the
article have not cited any credible evidence and therefore this is a
conclusion born of political motivation. Perhaps that is also a
motivation behind your OP.
Post by Rich80105As the article says: "Having found an answer to their cancer
drug-funding predicament, Luxon and co may be happy to learn of some
other useful tools hiding in plain sight."
Again - speculation borne of anti-government putdown motivation.
You did not address the elephant in the room - Labour have ignored
completely the bias of Pharmac against funding life-saving drugs for
cancer-sufferers. I have a friend who died on August 31 2023 from
various cancers so I have a personal interest in the hypocrisy of the
subject matter of that article.
No, Pharmac did not have and does not have a bias against funding
life-saving drugs for cancer sufferers. They have an investigative
process that continually assess how they can get the best results
using all the money they are allocated. They also assess what
medications work best, which is why the experts had to tell the
politicians that some of the drugs they listed were no longer the most
effective - all the politicians were doing was limiting the amount of
drugs they could buy at a given price by giving an advantage to the
suppliers in a competitive market. Still, that was yet another
learning experience for the government team . . . - they may in fact
have delayed some purchases by going public with their instructions.
Post by CrashApart from a new development on Pharmac independence on drug funding
which I do not support, this is solely a political beat up used
against the Government.
What new development is that, Crash? Pharmac has been going for many
years, and for all that time they have been dependent on the amount
and timing of money they are allocated, and that is perhaps better
understood by both the public and the politicians now. What is
surprising is that Luxon's minders do not appear to have remembered
that John Key did the same sort of stupid promise before his party was
elected some years ago. we have been told that, on average, Pharmac is
able to buy medications at an average of about 10% to 15% lower than
other similar sized countries though - that demonstrates that at
times the power of the collective can take advantage of an
uncoordinated and scattered market - it does seem that National are
happier with cartels and monopolies that they can control - working in
a free market is not something they have much knowledge of, and that
is one of the lessons the article is applauding the government for
having (again!) learned.