King Annette: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeKing Annette: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 18 September 2013. Volume:693;Page:13465. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]11.Hon ANNETTE KING (Labour—Rongotai) to theMinister of Health: Does he agree that every person can afford healthcare and disability support regardless of their income health status or risk profile?Hon TONY RYALL (Minister of Health): In New Zealand we heavily subsidise primary care and have free hospital care but for some New Zealanders cost can be an issue and that is the reason we have a welfare system. For example although prescription charges have gone up by $2 an item with a 20-item cap those who have difficulty in meeting this cost can discuss their circumstances with their general practitioner and pharmacist or they can go to Work and Income New Zealand.Hon Annette King: Well in light of that answer is he concerned with reports in theDominion Post on Monday of pharmacists saying that people are not collecting their prescriptions are taking only a few days of medication at a time and are choosing some drugs over others because of the increase in prescription fees and of health professionals now saying that it is the poorer patients who are suffering; if not why not?Hon TONY RYALL: I would have to say that some people not picking up their medications for cost and other reasons is not new but the Government has made it very clear that people will be able to qualify for a pharmaceutical subsidy card after reaching 20 prescription items in a year which means that no family need pay more than an extra $40 a year as a result of the co-payment. If they do have any troubles they can go to Work and Income New Zealand. The use of the pharmaceutical subsidy card means that about one-third of prescriptions filled in New Zealand are filled without any co-payment.Hon Annette King: Well in light of that answer if it is all OK why did the Ministry of Health hold a meeting with a number of stakeholders in the past month where the ministry expressed concern at the growing number of people unable to afford to pick up their prescriptions because of the increased cost and asked the stakeholders to help them find a solution because “It could become an election issue.”?Hon TONY RYALL: I am unaware of that meeting. I would have to check the facts. It could be like the member’s claim about Timaru Hospital’s various reports withdoctored Official Information Act requests. Because I am unaware of that and it is not verifiable I cannot comment.Hon Annette King: I will verify it later. How does he decide how serious the problem is especially for poorer and older New Zealanders when he has informed me that he does not receive any regular reports from any entity on the impact on patients of his increased prescription charges when he dismisses the concerns of health professionals and when his own ministry is too scared to tell him it is worried about the growing impact of the hiked fees on patients?Hon TONY RYALL: For some people it is difficult and that is the reason Work and Income New Zealand is able to support those people and it is the reason we have the prescription subsidy card. What I can report to the member is that actually the number of prescriptions being filled in New Zealand according to all the data that I have got is increasing. The amount of money that we have made available for pharmacies is also increasing.Hon Annette King: Is he aware that hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders who are eligible for an exemption card from the prescription charge miss out because they do not get their prescriptions filled at the same pharmacy; if so will he support my solution of a pharmacy card that is able to be used in any pharmacy and that records all prescriptions dispensed ensuring that when a patient does reach the 20-script limit they get the exemption they are entitled to; if not why not?Hon TONY RYALL: I am aware that each year more than 750000 people use the pharmaceutical subsidy card to maintain their medicines and the Government is working on a number of options related to new electronic support in pharmacies which will facilitate people having easier access to the issues that the member raises. What I would say to the member is that it would be helpful if when she meets anybody who is having trouble with their pharmaceutical costs she advises them that they are able to contact Work and Income New Zealand for support.Hon Annette King: Does he recall saying that pharmacists play an important role in primary health care; if so why does he not listen to their experiences of the impact of the increased prescription fees which have led to problems not only for patients but also for pharmacists themselves who say they are now carrying greater debt they are throwing away hundreds of thousands of dollars of medication and they are providing prescriptions on a drip-feed basis?Hon TONY RYALL: Because I think the feedback from pharmacies is not necessarily as represented by that member. I think that many pharmacists will tell you there has not been much of a change in their area; others are having difficulty. Those people who do experience difficulty meeting pharmaceutical charges should contact Work and Income New Zealand for support. What I can advise is that this Government continues to invest very strongly in pharmacy services and in the health service as a whole. There is record funding of $500 million a year extra on average under the National Government.Hon Annette King: I seek leave to table a letter to me from Tony Ryall received on 12 August 2013 stating that he does not receive regular reports from any entity on the impact on patients of the increase in prescription fees to $5.Mr SPEAKER: Order! Leave is sought to table that particular letter from the Minister to the Hon Annette King. Is there any objection? There appears to be none. It can be tabled.Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.