Progress report on the Reset Programme

Pae Ora Legislation Amendment

Seek feedback from consumers on possible changes to the Pae Ora legislation related to Pharmac to incorporate into advice to the Minister.

Ensure advice provided to the Minister reflects consumer perspectives and supports informed decision-making.

Complete

Seek feedback from consumers

Pharmac advice, including CAP working group feedback, provided to the Minister

Discussions with CAP working group (30 July) and CAC (6 August)

Consumer feedback incorporated into Pharmac’s advice to the Minister, including CAP working group written feedback as an appendix

Pharmac advice provided to Minister’s office (21 Aug)

Establish Consumer Working Group

Establish a consumer working group to support the design and delivery of the reset programme. The members will be selected by the consumer and patient community.

A partnership approach between consumers and Pharmac for organisational improvement work.

Complete

Appoint Chair and members

Develop and agree Terms of Reference

Schedule regular meetings

Chair selected by consumer and patient community and members appointed by Chair.

First meeting held on 21 July 2025. Terms of reference finalised and published on Pharmac website.

Working group meeting fortnightly and meeting minutes published on Pharmac website.

About the consumer working group

Build a Consumer Network

Build a consumer advocate network and database that represents health conditions and communities with high health needs.

A centralised consumer and patient database to support improved engagement.

Completed

Agree requirements for database

ICT or external provider build and deliver database

Database populated with contact details shared by CAP working group and CAC members

Consumer relations team trained to use database

Requirements for database finalised with ICT and external provider delivered solution

CAP working group members actively contributing contact details

CAP working group provided insights on what information should be captured within the database (25 Sep)

Database has been built and populated with contacts

User guide created and the consumer relations team will be trained as part of their induction

Relationship Managers

Expand Pharmac’s engagement function to include dedicated relationship managers to build and maintain relationships with key consumer and patient groups.

A dedicated engagement team is established, operating under a coordinated approach that enhances the organisation’s capacity and capability to build meaningful relationships with key consumer and patient groups.

In progress
– delayed

SLT approve the establishment of a consumer relations team

Manager appointed

Consumer Relations Principal Advisors appointed

CAP working group to provide insights for a successful implementation of the consumer relations team

External Engagement Manager has been appointed. 

Recruitment underway for three Consumer Relations principal advisors. There have been delays in finding candidates. A second round of recruitment is underway. Appointments will be made in Q2.

CAP working group provided insights on the role of the consumer relations team (25 Sep). This included a recommendation to develop a consumer and patient guide to support engagement and offering to support initial introductions with patient advocacy groups.

Pharmac Review Recommendations

Publish an update on the recommendations from the 2022 Pharmac Review to provide clarity to consumers on progress.

Improving transparency and accountability by communicating progress on the 2022 Pharmac Review recommendations.

Complete

Progress report developed and approved

Feedback from CAP working group Chair

Published on Pharmac website

Shared with consumer networks

Pharmac Review recommendation update published on Pharmac website in July 2025 and shared with consumer network.

July 2025 Pharmac Review Update

2026/27 Budget Bid

Seek feedback from consumers on Pharmac’s budget bid for 2026/27 to incorporate into advice to the Minister. Budget 2025/26 information proactively released to support consumer advice.

Consumers have improved understanding of and proactive engagement with the Budget process and Pharmac’s role within it.

Complete

2025/26 Budget information proactively released

Seek feedback from consumers

Implement CAP working group recommendations to enhance future budget bids

Budget 2025/26 information proactively released on Pharmac’s website in July 2025.

Consumer and Patient Working Group discussing Budget 2026/27 at meeting on 14 August.

Suggested data enhancements incorporated into Budget bid.

Joint Communications Planning

Develop joined up communications planning approach between consumer advocacy groups and Pharmac and seek feedback on Pharmac’s public affairs strategy.

Align Pharmac’s communications approach with consumer perspectives to support active participation.

In progress –
Deferred

Agree joined up communications plan approach

Consumer endorsement of Pharmac’s communications strategy 

Implement CAP working group recommendations

CAP working group discussing joined up communications planning at meeting on 9 October

Delivery delayed to Q2

Clinical Meeting Recommendations

Seek feedback from consumers on the timeliness changes to clinical meeting recommendations to understand if it is meeting consumer needs and expectations.

Ensure consumer perspectives inform decisions on permanent changes to clinical meeting recommendations.

In progress
– Deferred

CAP working group feedback informs outcome of trial

This action item will become a future quarter action item with a broader scope.