Peters Winston: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Peters Winston: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:613;Page:9710] 
6.  
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Leader—NZ First) 
 to the  
Prime Minister 
: Why did she say yesterday “This country has very careful mechanisms for assessing what drugs it is appropriate to fund and I am not aware that those mechanisms and procedures have changed substantially in recent years at all.” and further “I suggest the member put down a question on notice with specific reference to the question of Alzheimer's drugs. It is this Government's determination to provide proper treatment for people across the range of conditions.”? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK (Prime Minister) 
: 
 Because both statements reflect what I believe to be the case. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: Can the Prime Minister tell me why Pharmac is going to commence an Alzheimer’s drugs trial when at least 10 internationally respected agencies including the Federal Drug Agency in the United States have already done that and their countries have made those drugs available; is it because she is involved in penny-pinching at the cost of people’s suffering? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: It is clear to me that the debate in Pharmac about this drug is not about money; it is about efficacy. It is understood by Pharmac and those on the Pharmacology and Therapeutics Advisory Committee who advise it that yes the drug can have a limited effect for a limited time and they have not judged it appropriate at this time to fund it in New Zealand. 
Dr Lynda Scott 
: Having been a previous Minister of Health why would the Prime Minister not answer the question I posed to her yesterday asking why this Government will not fund drugs for Alzheimer’s patients; and as these are the only drugs that offer any hope at all for patients with Alzheimer’s why will this Government not fund them as they are funded in Australia Britain and America? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: Firstly it is not reasonable to expect me to answer a question on Alzheimer’s drugs with no notice at all—and there was no notice given of that question. Secondly it is 13 years since I was Minister of Health. Thirdly Alzheimer’s is a difficult and debilitating disease and I have no doubt that the member because of her specialist knowledge has treated patients with it. She will know there is no cure and there is no decent treatment either. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: Why did the Prime Minister make a statement in respect of those drugs that would be disowned by any other First World country including Canada the United Kingdom Australia the USA a number of Latin American countries and Western Europe in total were it not for the fact that she is basically heartless when it comes to people’s suffering? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: I recognise Alzheimer’s as an appalling and debilitating disease. I have recently had a relative die after many years of suffering dementia. I know how appalling it is. I am sure the Minister of Health will be very happy to make available to the member the advice that came from the Pharmacology and Therapeutics Advisory Committee which was that the drug should not be funded because it had only a limited effect for a small number of patients for a small period of time.