Leadership Changes at NZ's Pharmaceutical Agency Amid Concerns Over Māori Rights Policy Reversal

A director of New Zealand's drug funding agency has stepped down in protest over a government directive which stated the agency no longer needed to factor in Treaty of Waitangi considerations during its decisions.

According to correspondence, associate health minister and Act party leader David Seymour outlined his expectations for the organization, including how the principles of the 1840-signed treaty should be applied. The current government's directive stated that Pharmac should focus on delivering improved health outcomes based on data and evidence, disregarding any racial background considerations as a factor in needs assessment.

The decision by Seymour follows a previous report suggesting the agency may have contributed to unequal health results for Māori individuals. The current government has sought to improve conditions for all New Zealanders but this move sparked controversy, with concerns about potential negative impacts on Māori communities being addressed through other means such as overhauling the Māori Health Authority and banning smoking for future generations.

Dr Anthony Jordan resigned from his role at Pharmac after disagreeing with this policy direction, stating that it did not align with evidence demonstrating positive changes in health outcomes following treaty considerations during decision-making processes.

The agency has established a Māori leadership group to guide its actions post the report's findings, showing tangible improvements for some patients who had diabetes treatment funded differently based on ethnicity and need.

David Seymour confirmed that he stands by his directive while expressing respect for Dr Jordan’s decision to resign over their disagreement with this new approach at Pharmac.