A guest blog raises concerns that the appointment of former 'Big Pharma' executive Todd Stephenson as a health undersecretary overseeing Pharmac may indicate crony capitalism and potential conflicts of interest in pharmaceutical procurement.

The New Zealand government has allocated an additional $1.7 billion to Pharmac and appointed former National Party minister Paula Bennett as chair of the board. The appointment of a politically partisan figure with significant ties to party fundraising raises concerns over the agency's intended independence and impartiality in managing public health resources.

A comprehensive final report from Pharmac calls for sweeping reforms across its decision‐making, governance, and procurement processes. The report emphasizes the need to update medicines strategies, improve transparency in vaccine and medical device procurements, and, crucially, to embed equity for marginalized groups including Māori, Pasifika, and disabled populations. These recommendations aim to ensure the agency’s operations are aligned with progressive public health values and accountability measures.

A comprehensive review of public submissions concerning Pharmac, New Zealand’s pharmaceutical procurement agency, reveals that its decision-making processes are overly focused on cost savings at the expense of health outcomes. The report criticizes the agency for opaque procedures, slow funding decisions, and limited consultation with marginalized groups – factors that risk perpetuating inequities in access to modern medicines.