Associate Health Minister, David Seymour, has welcomed the summary report on Pharmac’s progress against his 2025/26 Letter of Expectations.
The Minister identified 13 expectations across three themes for Pharmac in his Letter of Expectations. The summary report tracks the agency’s progress on delivering to these expectations.
“What we are doing is working. We’ve transformed the culture at Pharmac,” Mr Seymour says.
“The patient community used to picket outside Pharmac. Now, patients have a stronger voice at the table when Pharmac makes its decisions, because that’s important to them.
“Pharmac has gone from focussing solely on managing their fixed budget, to an agency that seeks collaboration for better outcomes, and advocates for further funding.
“I want to acknowledge Pharmac for the work they have done to respond to my Letters of Expectations.”
As of June 2026, key achievements outlined in the summary report include:
- Prioritising improvements in the timeliness of assessment and decision-making, including trialling a streamlined assessment pathway and introducing new performance measures to reduce application backlogs;
- Strengthening patient and consumer involvement in decision-making through the Consumer and Patient Working Group and a dedicated consumer engagement team;
- Updating policy settings for rare disorders to align with the Rare Disorders Strategy;
- Begun a review of its Exceptional Circumstances Framework, including the NPPA process;
- Developed a refreshed vision and strategy that sets a clear, ambitious direction for the future that fosters trust, collaboration, and innovation;
- Progressing significant data and digital investments, including upgrading tools and processes.
“For the first time, Pharmac has a clear multi-year programme of organisational improvement underway. While still a work in progress, it is encouraging to see progress on consumer engagement, timeliness and sector collaboration,” Mr Seymour says.
“Pharmac is also more transparent than ever. Progress is published to hold Pharmac to account, and to keep the patient community up to date so that when they have their say, it’s based on the best information.
“The progress so far has been impressive, but there is more work to be done. Listening to the voices of patients and consumers will continue to be at the heart of Pharmac’s work as it launches the next phase of its long-term improvement programme.”
The full report can be found at on Pharmac’s website: 2025/26 Pharmac Letter of Expectations progress update.
