The ACT Party is proposing to gradually increase the proportion of New Zealand’s health budget allocated to Pharmac by one percent each year, aiming for a total of 12% by 2033. Currently, the country spends only 4.9% on medicines, significantly below the OECD average of 13.3%. ACT leader David Seymour hopes to gain cross-party support for this initiative, emphasizing that it would allow Pharmac to fund more pharmaceuticals from a lengthy wishlist of 139 applications. Labor leader Chris Hipkins has expressed support for the policy, highlighting its focus on preventative healthcare.
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Link to original article source: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/politics/799139/act-campaigns-to-close-the-pharmac-funding-gap
