Specialist advisory committees

Updates in the last month

3 July 2026 | May 2026 Immunisation Advisory Committee meeting summary of provisional recommendations published

17 June 2026 | 2026-02 Rheumatology Advisory Committee Record published

12 June 2026 | 2026-03 Gastrointestinal Advisory Committee record published

10 June 2026 | New member to the Anti-Infective Advisory Committee, Dr Sarah Primhak

5 June 2026 | New member to the Cancer Treatments Advisory Committee, Dr Michael Lau

Meetings scheduled for:

  • Cardiovascular Advisory Committee: 23 October 2026 
  • Mental Health Advisory Committee: 27 November 2026

About specialist advisory committees

Pharmac’s specialist advisory committees provide Pharmac with objective specialist knowledge and expertise within specific clinical areas, such as diabetes, cancer, and mental health. They meet as needed to discuss issues within their clinical areas.

The specialist advisory committees have a different, but complementary, role from PTAC. Their expertise and perspectives can differ from PTAC. 

PTAC and specialist advisory committees may make recommendations to Pharmac that differ from each other when looking at the same evidence. Pharmac considers the recommendations provided by all our clinical advisory committees when assessing applications.

Members of specialist advisory committees are appointed by the Pharmac board. They are not Pharmac employees, but we do pay for their travel and time. 

Before November 2021, specialist advisory committees were called Subcommittees.

Advisory 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.

Read the specialist advisory committee terms of reference

Cancer Treatments Advisory Committee