Pharmac director Dr Anthony Jordan quits over Government’s Treaty of Waitangi directive

Dr Anthony Jordan has resigned from Pharmac's board over a Government directive to the agency regarding the Treaty of Waitangi. Photo / Dean Purcell

By RNZ

Pharmac director Dr Anthony Jordan has quit over the Government’s Treaty directive, the Pharmac Minister’s office says.

Associate Health Minister David Seymour this week told Pharmac it was inappropriate for the agency to keep considering the Treaty of Waitangi’s place in the health sector.

Seymour has released his letter to Pharmac board chair Paula Bennett setting out his expectations for the agency.

“Pharmac’s role should focus on delivering improved health outcomes underpinned by robust data and evidence, in accordance with its statutory responsibilities,” he wrote.

Jordan joined the Pharmac board in December 2021 and his term was due to end in December 2024.

Bennett said in a statement Jordan’s decision to resign was effective immediately.

“I am told Dr Jordan has made a significant contribution to Pharmac’s strategic direction and operational focus over the past few years,” she said.

“Other board members, the chief executive and the teams at Pharmac have greatly appreciated the clinical expertise and insights he has brought to his role on the board, and we wish him all the best for the future.”

Seymour would appoint a new board member in due course, she said.

In his letter to Pharmac, Seymour also said there were some illnesses and treatments where ethnicity was a factor, and that he had never argued ethnicity should not be considered in such cases.

Bennett said Seymour’s letter had set out clearly the need for Pharmac to consider the voices of all New Zealanders, and highlighted the focus on a social investment approach.

As part of National’s coalition agreement with Act, Seymour has been tasked with reforming Pharmac’s funding model, to account for positive fiscal impacts on the Crown of funding more medicines.

Pharmac will be required to update its statement of intent to reflect the Government’s priorities, and continue to outline how it is implementing the findings from the 2022 review.

- RNZ