Pharmac acting chief executive Brendan Boyle said the agency was working through an internal process to create a Māori engagement model that was more comprehensive, sustainable and effective. Photo:
A Pharmac proposal to disestablish its specialist Māori advisory team is an abandonment of Pharmac's commitment to Māori health, the Public Service Association (PSA) says.
The proposal to disestablish the Māori Directorate was announced to staff on Monday, and would see a net loss of three roles, including those responsible for supporting an anti-racism research programme, the PSA said.
Pharmac acting chief executive Brendan Boyle said the agency was working through an internal process to create a Māori engagement model that was more comprehensive, sustainable and effective.
"This is part of a bigger work programme to make the organisation more outward-focused and responsive to the health needs of all New Zealanders. No decisions have been made at this stage."
Janice Panoho, Kaihautū Māori for the PSA, said the proposal was a result of the government's Letter of Expectations to Pharmac instructing it to stop embedding Te Tiriti o Waitangi in its funding decisions.
"This is an abandonment of Pharmac's commitment to the health of Māori and another breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi," she said.
It follows Pharmac's decision late last year to disestablish its in-house Māori Advisory Group, Te Rōpū, made up of medical specialists including doctors, pharmacists and researchers.
The roles responsible for supporting the work of the now-defunct group were among those considered to be axed under the latest proposal.
"This latest proposal flies in the face of Pharmac's statutory obligation to consider equity and address racism in access to medicines - this change will further diminish the voice of Māori in Pharmac's funding decisions," Panoho said.
Across the public service, the government was overriding its legal obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi and washing its hands of the partnership between the Crown and Māori that previous governments embraced, she said.
"We urge the government and Pharmac to not walk away from Te Tiriti o Waitangi if it's serious about improving the health outcomes of Māori."
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