Libertarianz deputy leader Richard McGrath called for the dissolution of Pharmac, describing its medical director as a statist lackey whose actions border on criminal nuisance. "Peter Moodie should lift his head out of the trough, skulk back to Karori, and resume productive work as a general practitioner. He may then see for himself how Pharmac's interventions are destroying choices for doctors and patients."

Dr McGrath, a Masterton GP, urges Moodie and his political masters to heed the warnings of Glaxo Wellcome and Smith Kline Beetham, who this week said they may withdraw from the New Zealand market. "The pharmaceutical industry has done more to improve the average person's quality of life than any politician or bureaucrat ever could," he said. "If Pharmac succeed in driving more of these companies offshore, Dr Moodie and others might find themselves the subject of lawsuits in the same way that Simon Upton and Helen Clark appear to be over the hepatitis C debacle."

McGrath said he is sick and tired of the time-wasting daily phone calls he makes to discuss the latest Pharmac edicts with chemists. "My patients are becoming exasperated by the monthly alterations in government subsidies for medications. The whole system of tendering, sole-supply deals and patient subsidies should be abandoned. Let the pharmaceutical companies compete among themselves to drive prices down."

Libertarianz believes time is running out for the governments drug-rationing agency. "For Glaxo and other companies, there is limited novelty value in brown-nosing to weasel-faced bureaucrats. Very soon, questions will be asked about the dwindling number of drugs available in this country. Peter Moodie and the agency he represents may find themselves under the blowtorch - and when that happens, Libertarianz will be there to turn up the heat."

ENDS

For further information please contact: Dr Richard McGrath * Libertarianz Deputy Leader * Fax 06 377 3070 * mongrel@winz.co.nz * LIBERTARIANZ * More Freedom * Less Government *

www.libertarianz.org.nz www.freeradical.co.nz

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