Friday, 19 August 2022
Meet the JournalistsPremiumAucklandWellingtonCanterbury/South Island
CrimePoliticsHealthEducationEnvironment and ClimateNZ Herald FocusData journalismKāhu, Māori ContentPropertyWeather
Small BusinessOpinionPersonal FinanceEconomyBusiness TravelCapital Markets
Politics
Premium SportRugbyCricketRacingNetballBoxingLeagueFootballSuper RugbyAthleticsBasketballMotorsportTennisCyclingGolfAmerican SportsHockeyUFC
NZH Local FocusThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay of Plenty TimesHawke's Bay TodayRotorua Daily PostWhanganui ChronicleStratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu Courier
Covid-19
Te Rito
Te Rito
OneRoof PropertyCommercial Property
Open JusticeVideoPodcastsTechnologyWorldOpinion
SpyTVMoviesBooksMusicCultureSideswipeCompetitions
Fashion & BeautyFood & DrinkRoyalsRelationshipsWellbeingPets & AnimalsVivaCanvasEat WellCompetitionsRestaurants & Menus
New Zealand TravelAustralia TravelInternational Travel
Our Green FutureRuralOneRoof Property
Career AdviceCorporate News
Driven MotoringPhotos
SudokuCodecrackerCrosswordsWordsearchDaily quizzes
Classifieds
KaitaiaWhangareiDargavilleAucklandThamesTaurangaHamiltonWhakataneRotoruaTokoroaTe KuitiTaumarunuiTaupoGisborneNew PlymouthNapierHastingsDannevirkeWhanganuiPalmerston NorthLevinParaparaumuMastertonWellingtonMotuekaNelsonBlenheimWestportReeftonKaikouraGreymouthHokitikaChristchurchAshburtonTimaruWanakaOamaruQueenstownDunedinGoreInvercargill
NZ HeraldThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay Of Plenty TimesRotorua Daily PostHawke's Bay TodayWhanganui ChronicleThe Stratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu CourierVivaEat WellOneRoofDriven MotoringThe CountryPhoto SalesNZ Herald InsightsWatchMeGrabOneiHeart RadioRestaurant Hub

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
Business

Can't afford meds? Don't get sick

1 Aug, 2015 05:00 PM4 minutes to read
John Key has admitted the cost of some medicines would go up under the TPP. This is hardly surprising. Photo / Mark Mitchell

John Key has admitted the cost of some medicines would go up under the TPP. This is hardly surprising. Photo / Mark Mitchell

By
Paul Little

VIEW PROFILE

So now you're interested in the Trans Pacific Partnership. After years of warnings about the free trade agreement's potentially disastrous effects on lapdog countries such as ours, which have been straining at the leash in our enthusiasm to see the deal signed off, the public has been given a hip-pocket reason to give a toss.

Hitherto, objections have centred on far-fetched scenarios involving large corporations gaining control of nations' intellectual property, suing foreign Governments for not doing their bidding and other nightmares.

Then John Key, in an uncharacteristically gauche move, admitted the cost of some medicines would go up under the TPP. This is hardly surprising. When the aim of a deal is to end protection, things tend to be left unprotected.

The PM has been such an enthusiastic supporter of the TPP that when he has no choice but to admit it has a tiny downside, you know it's serious and almost certainly not the worst of it. He might have thought no one would notice - after all, health is almost proverbially something we take for granted.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

But meddling doctors' groups, not yet discredited in the way teachers, beneficiaries and unionists have been after decades of neoliberal governments, led the charge in deploring this possibility.

Our tough love Government must find this galling. Medicine, in its mind, is probably an extravagance indulged in by people who don't have the mental fortitude to deal with illness and chronic conditions with positive thinking and a can-do attitude. Can't afford medicine? Don't get sick, losers.

However, so many people have got so used to having access to medicine for so long that the notion has become embedded in the culture.

So the Government has said that when - not if - costs go up, it will find the money to cover the difference. Governments, you'll remember, usually get their money in one of two ways - from fabulously wealthy benefactors who dip into their own pockets to keep the country running; or from taxpayers. My hunch is that in this case, it's probably the taxpayer who will be ponying up.

And as we have long known the tax burden falls disproportionately on those of limited means, who are also likelier to be poor, as the gap between richest and poorest widens, partly due to measures such as the TPP.

The final TPP talks are taking place at the Westin Maui Resort & Spa Ka'anapali in Hawaii, where every guest room has a Heavenly Bed, equipped with "a custom-designed Simmons Beautyrest pillow-top mattress set, cozy down blanket, three crisp sheets, a comforter, duvet and five fluffy pillows". Heavenly Dog Beds are available on request.

Related articles

Business

TPP: Key lobbying for dairy concessions

29 Jul 06:00 AM
New Zealand|Politics

Dita De Boni: TPP - what could go wrong?

31 Jul 02:36 AM
Politics

Editorial: TPP without dairy access will be hollow

30 Jul 05:00 PM
Politics

Toby Manhire: Rockstar economy? The star isn't well

31 Jul 12:57 AM

It's a good choice of location when it comes to selling the TPP. It shows us the standard of living we can all expect when the agreement goes through. And for those of us worried about paying for medicine, just imagining what it's like to sleep on a Heavenly Bed, or in some cases, just under a roof, will take our minds off our woes and stop us feeling sorry for ourselves.

Some readers may have been lured into viewing a Seven Sharp item, widely re-posted online, in which Professor Jane Kelsey demolished some of the propaganda being used to sell the TPP and explained what it will really do. Unfortunately, she did not do it in terms simple enough to be understood by Mike Hosking, who continued to frame his encounter with Kelsey in terms of winning, losing and point-scoring.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Please do not adjust your set - I am reliably informed this was an aberration and not an indication that Seven Sharp has taken to giving air space to intelligent commentary.

Debate on this article is now closed.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Business

Premium
Business

What lies ahead for Genesis Energy after profit lift?

19 Aug 05:45 AM
Premium
Business

Should the All Blacks wear black? And the other no-brainer for Air NZ's Greg Foran

19 Aug 05:43 AM
Premium
Business

Adrian Orr accepts mortgage rates could fall next year

19 Aug 05:40 AM
Premium
Business

Market close: F&P Healthcare drags market down

19 Aug 05:37 AM
Premium
Business

NZ headed for recession in 2023, but inflation to fall fast - BNZ

19 Aug 05:34 AM

Most Popular

Ombudsman sends PM 'please explain' over Sharma allegations
New Zealand|Politics

Ombudsman sends PM 'please explain' over Sharma allegations

19 Aug 07:04 AM
Kawhia shooting: Mum haunted by frightening escape into darkness with children
New Zealand|Crime

Kawhia shooting: Mum haunted by frightening escape into darkness with children

19 Aug 04:04 AM
Premium
Cecilia Robinson rejoins My Food Bag board amid 'deeply disappointing' share price
Business

Cecilia Robinson rejoins My Food Bag board amid 'deeply disappointing' share price

19 Aug 05:32 AM

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
About NZMEHelp & SupportContact UsSubscribe to NZ HeraldHouse Rules
Manage Your Print SubscriptionNZ Herald E-EditionAdvertise with NZMEBook Your AdPrivacy Policy
Terms of UseCompetition Terms & ConditionsSubscriptions Terms & Conditions
© Copyright 2022 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP