Source: New Zealand Government
The Government will shift responsibility for funding ambulance medicines from Health New Zealand (HNZ) and ACC to Pharmac because it will improve medicine procurement processes, and save the health system money, Associate Health Minister David Seymour and Health Minister Simeon Brown say.
Consultation is now open on proposed changes to support the shift in responsibility.
“This proposal means no matter where a patient is located, their ambulance and hospital will have access to the same emergency medicines they need, and Pharmac can get those medicines cheaper,” Mr Seymour says.
“Currently HNZ and ACC fund ambulance services, individual ambulance providers then purchase the medicines they need to treat their patients. This leads to some ambulance providers funding certain medicines which their local hospital does not, and vice versa. Patients need access to high quality continuous care, no matter where they are located.
“This will benefit patients. It will improve the continuity of care provided to patients by ensuring ambulance providers and hospital staff have access to the same medicines.
“Pharmac’s proposal will also create a single nationally consistent list of medicines funded for use by emergency ambulance service providers. This helps ambulance providers, regardless of their location, to understand what is funded.
“When it comes to medicine procurement, Pharmac are the experts. Transferring responsibility to Pharmac means we can get the best deals for medicines. Pharmac can leverage supply chains, utilise buying power, and take a more coordinated approach to funding medicines used in emergency care.
“This proposal will also realise savings. Pharmac can utilise existing national agreements, including access to the best prices, reduced duplication of procurement activity, and the supply protections built into Pharmac’s commercial arrangements.
“When you spend better you can afford more. These savings mean Pharmac could fund some emergency medicines that ambulance services haven’t previously been able to afford.”
Mr Brown says patients should be able to access the emergency treatment they need regardless of where they live.
“This change will help ensure patients transferred by ambulance to public hospitals have access to the same medicines, supporting better continuity of care between ambulance crews and hospital teams.
“Funding ambulance medicines through Pharmac, alongside the medicines it already manages for the health system, should also save time and resources for providers, making it easier for them to focus on frontline care.
“We are committed to ensuring New Zealanders can access the care they need when they need it. This change will support more consistent treatment across the country so people can access the same emergency medicines regardless of their location or emergency care provider.”
Consultation on the proposal opens on Thursday March 12 and closes at 5pm on Thursday April 2. If the proposal is finalised the changes will be implemented from Wednesday July 1, 2026. Have your say here: Consultation: Updating the pharmaceutical schedule for ambulance medicines
