This is the text extract for PHARMAC Regional Forum in Porirua, browse documents here.

13 October 2011

PHARMAC’s first regional consumer forum in Porirua

PHARMAC and two members from its Consumer Advisory Committee, Shane Bradbrook and Anne Fitisemanu, will be hosting a lunchtime forum in Porirua on 25 October 2011. This is a community opportunity to meet and share views on services and information provided by PHARMAC, the Government’s medicine funding agency. Participants will learn more about PHARMAC and we will learn more about your point of view. In particular, we’ll be talking about:    Ways to work with Māori to better address Māori health needs Ways to work with Pacific peoples to better address their health needs Other PHARMAC topics of particular interest to you.

The session will be held from 10.30am – 1pm followed by lunch and an optional question and answer session until 2pm in Meeting Room 1, at Te Rauparaha Arena, 17 Parumoana Street, Porirua. The Consumer Advisory Committee (CAC) was established by the PHARMAC Board in 2000 to provide input from a consumer or patient point of view on matters relating to PHARMAC’s activities. The CAC‘s primary functions are to provide advice to PHARMAC on how it can best access the diversity of consumer views and consider these when carrying out its role. Consumers are able to provide input directly on the processes involved in the assessment, prioritisation and funding of medicines. CAC can give PHARMAC advice on whether it is getting wide and diverse enough engagement with people in the community. For more information visit www.pharmac.govt.nz/PHARMACforum or email forum@pharmac.govt.nz For media inquiries contact: 021 0248 3515.