He kawau ka tuku I roto I te aro maunga

Te ORA and PHARMAC have an enduring memorandum of agreement, with a focus on the shared goal of supporting hauora Māori aspirations through equitable access to medicines and medical devices.  As such, Te ORA feels it critical to raise serious concerns about Pharmac’s current proposal to change eligibility criteria for diabetes medications.  We are grateful to those members who drew together their knowledge and expertise and crafted such a refined, concise and articulate response.

In summary, Te ORA’s position

• We support the proposal to lower the cardiovascular risk threshold from 15% to 10%
• We do not support the removal of the existing criteria for Māori and Pacific people living with type 2 diabetes with control above target.
• We are concerned about the lack of transparency around this decision, including concerns about the rushed consultation, the rejection of expert advice, and urgently call upon Pharmac to release further information and modelling about the estimated impact of this decision (and the alternatives considered) on Māori and Pacific people, who have the greatest clinical need, along with the poorest access to CVD risk assessment and diabetes care.

Below is our submission in full, submitted on 25 May 2026. Since then, Pharmac has released an update to extend the deadline for feedback, and state they will release further information about the proposed changes.   While this is welcomed, we stand by our initial submission that questions the consultation process.  We will await further information from Pharmac before outlining any further response. 

Me whakatinana tātou i te mana ora, i te mana tangata, me te mana taurite ki roto i ngā mahi me ngā whakaaro o ia rā haere ake nei.