King Annette: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeKing Annette: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 13 October 2015. Volume:709;Page:7112. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]6.Hon ANNETTE KING (Deputy Leader—Labour) to the Minister of Health: What is the estimated cost to Vote Health of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement?Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN (Minister of Health): The best estimate of the cost to Vote Health from the Trans-Pacific Partnership is $4.5 million in one-off costs and $2.2 million per year in ongoing operating costs to Pharmac. That is a tiny 14/1000ths of 1 percent of the $15.9 billion health budget. The Government does not foresee any additional cost to Pharmac from the provisions relating to biologic drugs. Consumers will not pay more for subsidised medicines as a result of the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Most prescribed medicines are fully subsidised and New Zealanders will still pay no more than $5 per prescription item—the Trans-Pacific Partnership does not change this in any way. Pharmac’s ability to negotiate with drug companies to keep prices down is unchanged.Hon Annette King: What has he been informed are the “comparable outcomes” to enable New Zealand to deliver a longer period than the current 5 years’ data exclusivity on biologics under the Trans-Pacific Partnership?Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: The point underlying that question is that we do not need to make any change to our policy settings to fulfil the requirements of—Hon Annette King: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. A very specific question: I asked has he been informed what are the “comparable outcomes”—Mr SPEAKER: I will allow the member to repeat the question.Hon Annette King: What has he been informed are “comparable outcomes” to enable New Zealand to deliver a longer period than the current 5 years on data exclusivity on biologics under the Trans-Pacific Partnership?Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: They are those delivered by the existing policy measures. So you have got 20-year patent protection—that remains intact. That is going to exceed the 5-year data protection. And when you put that together with the Medsafe process that actually meets the requirements of the Trans-Pacific Partnership.Hon Annette King: Has he been informed what a comparable outcome would mean in actual years added on to the 5-year data exclusivity protection in New Zealand with changes negotiated under the Trans-Pacific Partnership?Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: There will not be any change because our existing policy framework meets all the requirements of the Trans-Pacific Partnership.Rt Hon John Key: What does the Minister think will be the impact on the health budget if and when the New Zealand economy is much larger and more successful as a result of having a good free-trade agreement?Mr SPEAKER: In so far as there is ministerial responsibility the Hon Jonathan Coleman.Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: That is the best question of the day. The reality of it is that because we have signed up to the Trans-Pacific Partnership we are going to have the economy increasing by $2.7 billion per year by 2030. That is going to mean that we are going to have much more money to put into the health budget to provide more medicines and better care for New Zealanders over time. It is a real shame that Labour cannot make up its mind whether to support this or not.Hon Annette King: What will be the cost to the health of New Zealanders of a 1-year delay in making biologic drugs available in light of an article in the Medical Journal of Australia that states “pharmaceutical monopoly protections … cost Australian taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars each year.”?Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: Do not forget this is the member who said the Trans-Pacific Partnership—Mr SPEAKER: Order! It is a very simple question that has been asked of the Minister. If he would rise and answer it please.Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: It is a very complex hypothetical question. What I have said is that there will be no added cost. It will not be the $1 billion that Annette King said would be added. It—Hon Annette King: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker.Mr SPEAKER: I will hear from the Hon Annette King.Hon Annette King: Once again the Minister has to bring the Labour Party into the answer when it was a straightforward—Mr SPEAKER: Order! No the first attempt—Hon Annette King: No.Mr SPEAKER: Order! My patience will probably run out fairly quickly with this member. The question was not attempted to be answered in the first place. I took issue with the Minister and he now has to my satisfaction addressed the question. If the member has further supplementary questions that is the way to proceed.Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. May I finish my answer?Mr SPEAKER: Yes the Minister can complete his answer briefly.Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: OK. I just want to clarify: it will not cost a billion dollars a year as Annette King said; it will not cost lives as Annette King said; and most important of all it will not undermine the Pharmac model as Annette King said. So quite frankly she needs to apologise—Mr SPEAKER: Order! No we have had the—[Interruption] Order!Hon Annette King: Does he agree with Tim Groser in relation to Pharmac and the decisions made under the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement that “there is constructive ambiguity”?Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: I have not seen that quote. I mean you may well be making it up but I will have to check with Mr Groser now.Hon Annette King: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I take exception to being told I made things up. I am sure the Minister of Trade will confirm it. [Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order! I am on my feet. It was certainly not a helpful remark from the Minister. I accept that but it is hardly one that I think the member should take offence at. If she really requires me to ask the member to withdraw I will do so. Is the member offended by that remark?Hon Annette King: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker.Mr SPEAKER: No I will allow the member—Hon Annette King: No I will not ask him to withdraw. I will not. I would just ask whether it is possible for the Minister of Trade to confirm what I just said.Mr SPEAKER: No no. That is not a point of order at all.