Information Sheets
We have developed a range of information sheets about PHARMAC, the things we do and our place in the health system:
- Introduction to PHARMAC (2 pages, 248 KB)
- PHARMAC's history (2 pages, 232 KB)
- PHARMAC's place in the medicines system (2 pages, 128 KB)
- Making funding decisions (2 pages, 185 KB)
- Purchasing medicines (2 pages, 167 KB)
- The facts about generic medicines (2 pages, 221 KB)
- Managing medicine supply (1 page, 154 KB)
- Setting & managing the Combined Pharmaceutical Budget (2 pages, 179 KB)
- Targeting access to medicines (1 page, 161 KB)
- Improving access and optimal use of medicines (2 pages, 415 KB)
- Getting clinical advice into PHARMAC decision-making (2 pages, 199 KB)
- Engaging with consumers (1 page, 174 KB)
- Getting involved in PHARMAC decision-making (1 page, 178 KB)
- Inside the Pharmaceutical Schedule (2 pages, 282 KB)
- Working at PHARMAC (2 pages, 202 KB)
If you have any feedback or general comments to make about any of these information sheets, please 
email us.
Page updated on 19 Jan 2012
Linked documents
Introduction to PHARMAC (2 pages, 248 KB)
Pharmaceutical Management Agency information sheet Introduction to PHARMAC What is PHARMAC? The Pharmaceutical Management Agency (PHARMAC) is the New Zealand Crown agency that decides, on behalf of District Health Boards, which medicines and related products are subsidised for use in…
PHARMAC's history (2 pages, 232 KB)
Pharmaceutical Management Agency information sheet PHARMAC’s history PHARMAC’s history During the 1980s medicines prices were increasing at a faster rate than other healthcare spending, and were one of the fastest growing items of Government expenditure. Growth of more than 20%…
PHARMAC's place in the medicines system (2 pages, 128 KB)
Pharmaceutical Management Agency information sheet Our place in the medicines system Our roles As a medicine funder and decision-maker, PHARMAC plays a role within the New Zealand Medicines System, which is a subset of the health system. Our effectiveness depends…
Making funding decisions (2 pages, 185 KB)
Pharmaceutical Management Agency information sheet Making funding decisions The medicine funding environment None of us can have everything we want; our personal resources only stretch so far. The same is true of healthcare and medicines. There will always be a…
Purchasing medicines (2 pages, 167 KB)
Pharmaceutical Management Agency information sheet Purchasing medicines PHARMAC and medicines purchasing Many countries have a national agency to manage government funding for medicines. In New Zealand, the list of funded (subsidised) medicines and the rules applying to funding, are contained…
The facts about generic medicines (2 pages, 221 KB)
Pharmaceutical Management Agency information sheet The facts about generic medicines Generic medicines are expert copies of medicines made by companies that didn’t develop the drug themselves. Although a generic medicine costs less, it will still work as well as the…
Managing medicine supply (1 page, 154 KB)
Pharmaceutical Management Agency information sheet Managing medicine supply Many people depend on regular supply of medicine to maintain their health, so continued availability of funded medicines is of concern to PHARMAC. Medicine supply problems occur throughout the world for a…
Setting and managing the Combined Pharmaceutical Budget (2 pages, 179 KB)
Pharmaceutical Management Agency information sheet The Combined Pharmaceutical Budget (CPB) Having a budget Most people use a budget to manage their household spending. We take a similar approach to manage spending on medicines. Having a budget means you have to…
Targeting access to medicines (1 page, 161 KB)
Pharmaceutical Management Agency information sheet Targeting medicines Why target medicines? Some medicines treat many illnesses and how they are used is the decision of the health professional writing the prescription. When it comes to funding medicines, we want effective treatment…
Improving access and optimal use of medicines (2 pages, 415 KB)
Pharmaceutical Management Agency information sheet Improving access and optimal use of medicines Making the best use of medicines The debate about access to medicines is often focused around new medicines. But getting the best out of what’s already in the…
Getting clinical advice in PHARMAC's decision making (2 pages, 199 KB)
Pharmaceutical Management Agency information sheet Getting clinical advice into our decision making Medical Advice Advice from doctors is an important part of PHARMAC’s decisions on medicines funding. This advice is received in a number of ways, including through expert committees.…
Engaging with consumers (1 page, 174 KB)
Pharmaceutical Management Agency information sheet Engaging with consumers PHARMAC always seeks to keep in touch with the community’s views on pharmaceutical-related issues and to involve consumers in its work. The Consumer Advisory Committee (CAC) is one way PHARMAC ensures it…
Getting involved in PHARMAC decision making (1 page, 178 KB)
Pharmaceutical Management Agency information sheet Getting involved in PHARMAC decision-making Consultation Most New Zealanders are affected by PHARMAC’s decisions, so it’s important that we understand your views when we are making choices. We consult with the public, when appropriate, about…
Inside the Pharmaceutical Schedule (2 pages, 282 KB)
Pharmaceutical Management Agency information sheet Inside the Pharmaceutical Schedule What is the Pharmaceutical Schedule? The Pharmaceutical Schedule is the list of all the medicines and therapeutic products that PHARMAC subsidises. There are about 1800 subsidised medicines. The Schedule lists medicines…
Working at PHARMAC (2 pages, 202 KB)
Pharmaceutical Management Agency information sheet Working at PHARMAC Public good meets commercial interest PHARMAC is a government agency (a Crown entity, a government-owned body that is part of the wider state sector), providing all the benefits of working for the…
