𝔽𝕠𝕣𝕞𝕖𝕣 𝔻𝕖𝕡𝕦𝕥𝕪 ℙ𝕄 ℙ𝕒𝕦𝕝𝕒 𝔹𝕖𝕟𝕟𝕖𝕥𝕥 𝕒𝕡𝕡𝕠𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕖𝕕 ℙ𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕞𝕒𝕔 𝕓𝕠𝕒𝕣𝕕 𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕚𝕣

ℕ𝕖𝕡𝕠𝕥𝕚𝕤𝕞 𝕤𝕖𝕖𝕞𝕤 𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕪 𝕞𝕦𝕔𝕙 𝕒𝕝𝕚𝕧𝕖 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕨𝕖𝕝𝕝 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕔𝕠𝕒𝕝𝕚𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝕠𝕗 𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕠𝕤 𝕘𝕠𝕧𝕥 𝕒𝕤 𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕞𝕖𝕣 𝔻𝕖𝕡𝕦𝕥𝕪 ℙ𝕄 ℙ𝕒𝕦𝕝𝕒 𝔹𝕖𝕟𝕟𝕖𝕥𝕥 𝕙𝕒𝕤 𝕓𝕖𝕖𝕟 𝕒𝕡𝕡𝕠𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕖𝕕 𝕒𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕟𝕖𝕨 𝕓𝕠𝕒𝕣𝕕 𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕚𝕣 𝕠𝕗 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕕𝕣𝕦𝕘-𝕓𝕦𝕪𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕒𝕘𝕖𝕟𝕔𝕪 ℙ𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕞𝕒𝕔.

A

ssociate Health Minister David Seymour announced the appointment on Sunday morning.

"Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines," Seymour said.

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"As chair, Bennett will lead the Pharmac board in their role of managing the pharmaceutical schedule and driving greater efficiencies and access to medicine for New Zealanders."

Many ex national MP's are being given major positions inside govt agencies and thousands are losing their jobs

Seymour said he was confident Bennett had the right leadership and decision-making skills for the role.

Bennett brings a wealth of experience to this role, with extensive experience in governance and organisational change."

During her 15-year political career, Bennett served as deputy prime minister under Sir Bill English and a Cabinet minister with portfolios including social development, associate finance, state services, social housing, police, local government, and tourism.

Here we go again. Former Deputy PM Paula Bennett appointed Pharmac board chair https://t.co/BM8zOBXJ0I

— Maria Sherwood (@MariaSherwood2) April 27, 2024

Seymour said Pharmac board chair was an important role.

"Globally, changes in medicine are making them more useful and presenting new opportunities for our health, while at the same time presenting new challenges that need to be navigated."

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Former Pharmac board chair Steve Maharey, who was previously a Labour minister, resigned from the role - and as the board chair of the Accident Compensation Corporation - in December last year.

Seymour thanked acting chair Dr Peter Bramley for serving in the role during the search for a replacement.

He said Bramley would remain as a Pharmac board member.

Bennett will start in the role on 13 May.

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