Pharmac’s proposal to axe its specialist Māori advisory team is another sad example of the low priority the Government places on improving the health of Māori.

The proposed scrapping of the Māori Directorate announced to staff today will see a net loss of three roles, including those responsible for supporting an anti-racism research programme, and the roles responsible for supporting the work of the now-defunct Māori Advisory Group.

"This is an abandonment of Pharmac’s commitment to the health of Māori and another breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi," said Janice Panoho, Te Kaihautū Māori for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

This follows a decision in October last year to scrap the independent Māori Advisory Group, Te Rōpū Māori, made up of medical specialists including doctors, pharmacists and researchers.

This was a result of the Government’s Letter of Expectations to Pharmac instructing it to stop embedding Te Tiriti o Waitangi in its funding decisions.

"This latest proposal flies in the face of Pharmac’s statutory obligation to consider equity and address racism in access to medicines - this change will further diminish the voice of Māori in Pharmac’s funding decisions.

"The dismantling of Pharmac’s Māori leadership capacity is unacceptable. It sends a clear message to our communities, that Māori voices in the health system can be ignored, erased, and sidelined.

"Across the public service, the Government is overriding its legal obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi and washing its hands of the partnership between the Crown and Māori that previous governments embraced.

"We urge the Government and Pharmac to not walk away from Te Tiriti o Waitangi if it’s serious about improving the health outcomes of Māori."

The PSA stands with its Māori members at Pharmac and calls for a firm recommitment to equity in health outcomes for Māori and its community.

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