Politics

The minor parties are offering a grab-bag of policies that will affect pharmacy ahead of the election

The National Party has finally released its health manifesto, Better Health Outcomes, a 20-page paper setting out some of its new policies, as well as proposals it has already campaigned on

It’s election time again. While most New Zealanders will probably be basing their votes on the cost of living, crime, or which candidate they would like to have a beer with, I suspect for many pharmacists the choice will come down to a single issue: prescription fees

With Election 2023 looming, we asked the health spokespeople of all the parties that look like they have a shot at getting into Parliament (based on current polling) what they will do for the pharmacy sector

Kia ora. 

Medicines New Zealand says political parties’ pre-election pledges to increase Pharmac’s funding are positive, but much more will be needed if the next government wants to clear the backlog of unfunded medicines

The ACT party’s proposal to reverse the restrictions on pseudoephedrine would see a return to daily burglaries of pharmacies says retired Auckland pharmacist Warren Flaunty

Pharmacies will not be included in the National party’s new vaccine incentives plan, health spokesperson Shane Reti has confirmed

Smoking, vaping, junk food and alcohol were up for scrutiny at Health Coalition Aotearoa’s political panel on prevention, held last month in Wellington.

The Green Party and National want a new minister in charge of mental health, ACT wants a new mental health and addiction agency, and Labour wants to train 12 more psychiatrists a year