Pharmacology and Therapeutics Advisory Committee (PTAC)

The Committee provides objective clinical advice to Pharmac.

On this page

Updates to this page in the last month

29 October | Record of the May 2026 Pharmacology and Therapeutics Advisory Committee Meeting published

27 October | Agenda for November 2026 Pharmacology and Therapeutics advisory committee (PTAC) meeting added

About the Committee

The Pharmacology and Therapeutics Advisory Committee provides objective clinical advice to help Pharmac make decisions about how to use its funds wisely. It provides and promotes critical appraisal of the strength and quality of evidence for funding applications. This is applied rigorously, systematically, and consistently across all clinical areas.

It's made up of senior health practitioners from a range of specialities, who also regularly work with patients and their families. This means they can bring an evidence-based perspective but also provide insight on how Pharmac’s decisions apply to real people in New Zealand.

The Committee's part in the funding process

The committee's role in considering funding applications is set out in Pharmac’s Operating Policies and Procedures. Pharmac will assess the initial funding application and notify the applicant whether:

it will be considered by the Committee
it will be considered by a specialist advisory committee, or
further information is required before an assessment can be made.

The full details of Committee’s remit can be found in its Terms of Reference. The Terms of Reference were updated in 2021 to include the potential to have a consumer member, and increase consumer perspectives, on the Committee.

2021 PTAC Terms of Reference [PDF, 887 KB]

A recommendation from the Committee is not a guarantee that Pharmac will fund the medicine. Committee's advice is a vital step in the process for considering all funding applications, but it is not the only consideration. Pharmac must look at the whole picture to ensure we are getting the best health outcomes for New Zealand.

Pharmac's prioritisation process

Pharmacology and Therapeutics Advisory Committee members

Rhiannon Braund (Deputy Chair / Acting Chair) – Head, School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences
PhD, BPharm, BSc (Biochemistry), FPS, FNZCP, RegPharmNZ
Brian Anderson – Anaesthesia & Intensive Care Medicine Specialist
MBChB, Dip Obst, FANZCA, FCICM, PhD
Matthew Dawes – Physician and Clinical Pharmacologist
BSc, MB BS, MRCP, PhD
Elizabeth Dennett – General Surgery - Colorectal
BMedSci, MBChB, GradDipMed, MMedSci, MAppMgt(Hlth), FRACS, FASCRS
Helen Evans – Paediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology
BSc, MBChB, MRCPCH, FRACP
Bruce King – Specialist Internal Medicine and Nephrology
MBChB, FRACP
Liza Lack – Clinical Director, National Hauora Coalition – Waikato
BMedSci, MB,BS,DRCOG,DFFPA,DCH,PGDip GP (Hons), Dip Strategic Management (Hons), Master Health Science
James Le Fevre – Emergency Medicine Specialist
MBChB, FACEM, MBA, CMInstD
Robyn Manuel – Consumer Member
BSc, MSc (1st class), PhD (Chemistry), PGDip.Public Health, Dip.Te Reo Maori, GradDip.Teaching (Secondary). Te Rarawa, Ngāti Kahu, Ngāti Kurī and Te Aupōuri
John Mottershead – Consultant Neurologist
FRACP, FRCP BM BCh, BA (oxon), MSc (Distinction)
Stephen Munn – Transplant Surgeon
MBChB, FRACS, FACS
Matthew Strother – Medical Oncologist
MD (USA), FRACP
Paul Vroegop – Child & Adolescent Liaison Psychiatrist and Specialist Pain Medicine Physician
MBChB, FRANZCP, FFPMANZCA

Committee members are appointed by the Director-General of Health, in consultation with the Pharmac Board. This process is guided by an appointment protocol [PDF, 72 KB].

Interested senior health practitioners can apply directly or are nominated by professional medical bodies, such as the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners and the Royal Australasian College of Physicians. Vacancies are posted on the Pharmac careers website(external link).

Committee meeting agenda setting

The scheduling and agenda setting process for advisory meetings considers multiple factors. We aim to balance the relative priorities of:

clinical advice needed across indications
the factors for consideration for each application (such as, unmet health need)
the time since applications were received
the internal and advisor resource available to support each meeting.

Deadlines for PTAC meetings

If Pharmac chooses to seek PTAC advice on a funding application, the application must have been received by the following dates to be available for consideration at one of PTAC’s four annual meetings.

Note: application deadlines have changed from previous years. If you have question, email ptac@pharmac.govt.nz

Deadline for an application to be received by Pharmac, to be considered by PTAC:	PTAC’s meeting date:
~~7 July 2026~~	12 and 13 November 2026
14 October 2026	11 and 12 February 2027
13 January 2027	13 and 14 May 2027
7 April 2027	12 and/or 13 August 2027 (TBC One or Two days)
7 July 2027	11 and 12 November 2027
7 October 2027	10 and 11 February 2028

Records of Committee meetings

Provisional recommendations from meetings

We’re trialling a new approach of releasing provisional recommendations within 30 business days of the Committee meeting. Once the full record is published, the provisional recommendations remain available as a download.

More about this approach

Pharmacology and Therapeutics Advisory Committee Provisional Recommendations 14 August 2026

Pharmaceutical and Indication	Provisional Recommendation
Canakinumab(external link) for children and adolescents living with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis/Still’s disease, as a first line biologic treatment, subject to Special Authority criteria	Medium
Canakinumab(external link) for adults living with Still’s disease, as a first line biologic treatment, subject to Special Authority criteria	Low
Inclisiran(external link) for people living with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) who are at high risk, subject to Special Authority criteria	High
Faricimab(external link) for people living with macular oedema secondary to retinal vein occlusion, as a second-line anti-VEGF treatment, subject to Special Authority criteria	High
ElementGold(external link) Plus+ and ElementGold Plus+ Vegan for people with the currently funded conditions requiring specialised nutritional support, subject to Special Authority criteria	Cost Neutral**
ElementGold(external link) Plus+ Vegan for people with the currently funded conditions requiring specialised nutritional support and severe documented allergy to dairy, subject to Special Authority criteria	Low

**Cost Neutral – The Committee has recommended this application be funded if the cost is neutral to the provision of the currently funded medicine(s), including the related health system costs

More information about the agenda items considered at the recent Pharmacology and Therapeutics Advisory Committee meeting can be found on the Pharmac website

Provisional recommendations summary August 2026 PTAC meeting (published 10 September 2026) [PDF, 119 KB]

Released 10 September 2026