Turner Judy: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Turner Judy: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:619;Page:15027] 
13.  
JUDY TURNER (United Future) 
 to the  
Minister of Health 
: Is she satisfied that the Government’s investment in health research is consistent with its concomitant commitment to preventive health care? 
Hon ANNETTE KING (Minister of Health) 
: 
 Generally yes but we continue to strive to do better. 
Judy Turner 
: Why is the Government abandoning a full trial of the “polypill” which has been tipped to have a greater impact on the prevention of disease in the Western World than any other single intervention and does she agree that when a pill is calculated to prevent up to 88 percent of heart attacks and 80 percent of strokes the Government’s inaction is totally inconsistent with its apparent commitment to preventing heart disease; if not why not? 
Hon ANNETTE KING 
: In relation to the health portfolio Pharmac will fund medicines only once they are approved by Medsafe. At the present moment the “polypill” is not approved by Medsafe and should such a pill be approved for use in New Zealand then Pharmac would consider funding it on the same basis as every other medicine. But I need to tell the member that the five components in the proposed “polypill” are already available in their individual forms fully funded in New Zealand. 
Steve Chadwick 
: Does the Government continue to invest in new medicines? 
Hon ANNETTE KING 
: Yes. Considerable investment is being made in new medicines. We spend more than half a billion dollars a year on subsidised medicines and that amount is set to grow over the next 3 years. Pharmac this year alone will be adding nine new medicines to the subsidised list and I am pleased to tell the House that today Pharmac has announced it will be funding a new medicine to treat type 2 diabetes. 
Sue Kedgley 
: Given the dramatic increases in the breast cancer rate over the past 20 years why is the Government not investing in health research that looks at the underlying causes of cancer—in particular whether there is a link between breast cancer and the prevalence of oestrogen-mimicking chemicals in our food our houses and our environment? 
Hon ANNETTE KING 
: It is not necessary for New Zealand to carry out all research and we must use the money we have to target the areas that are of the most use to us. A lot of international research is carried out and we have the benefit of that as well. 
Judy Turner 
: What specific instructions has the Minister given to the Minister of Research Science and Technology to ensure that the Health Research Council prioritises research on preventive health therapies such as the “polypill” in line with the Government’s $1.7 billion commitment to primary health care? 
Hon ANNETTE KING 
: I do not give instructions to my colleague. I work with my colleague and with the Health Research Council to ensure that the priorities and terms of health research relate to the priorities in the New Zealand Health Strategy. 
Judy Turner 
: Is the Minister aware that the Australian Expert Group in Industry Studies report has found that: “The level of funding available for health research in New Zealand has decreased over the past decade is now well below international standards and is in serious danger of falling below a level necessary to sustain a functioning health research system.”; if so as a Minister in a Government that boasts of a commitment to biotechnology will she be lobbying the Minister of Research Science and Technology for the estimated $34.3 million needed to bring health research up to the level of other OECD countries? 
Hon ANNETTE KING 
: Yes but I need to say that report does not take account of funding that comes through the New Economy Research Fund the Marsden Fund various foundations and the funding that comes from the Ministry of Health itself.