Street Maryan: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Street Maryan: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 01 May 2012. Volume:679;Page:1778. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
12. 
Hon MARYAN STREET (Labour) 
 to the  
Minister of Health 
: What reports has he received concerning Pharmac’s provisional sole supplier contract with Pharmaco to provide new blood glucose meters for the 120000-plus diabetics who use them? 
Hon TONY RYALL (Minister of Health) 
: 
 I have received regular reports from Pharmac the media and others. The latest is that Pharmac is considering the results of an extensive consultation process and is in ongoing discussions with consumers clinicians and suppliers. No final decisions have been made. Managing diabetes is a very personal matter and it understands people’s concern about any change—as there was in 2005 when Pharmac controversially limited the supply of subsidised testing-strips for some people with diabetes.  
Hon Maryan Street 
: Does he believe that there is a difference between Pharmac contracting a sole supplier for a pharmaceutical that has known effects on known symptoms and contracting a sole supplier for a medical device without consumer testing that is used to help diabetics manage their chronic illness? 
Hon TONY RYALL 
: The device has been tested. There has been a process through which that happened and Pharmac decided that that was its preferred device. Having said that one of the issues that the member alludes to is the uncertainty sometimes with regard to sole supply. One of the benefits of the agreement that Pharmac tentatively has with the supplier is that the supplier will maintain an inventory of 4 months’ stock in the country during this process. Currently there is no requirement on any of the multiple suppliers to have that sort of stock in the country. 
Hon Maryan Street 
: Does he intend to get Pharmac to reconsider its provisional arrangement with Pharmaco? 
Hon TONY RYALL 
: Pharmac is currently considering the results of quite a lengthy consultation period. It is in ongoing discussions with consumers clinicians and suppliers. I think we should let that process carry on to its ultimate conclusion.  
Hon Maryan Street 
: Has he seen a submission from Diabetes NZ Auckland which says: “Sole supply for a life dependent medical device is dangerous particularly in the instance of quality issues civil emergencies and recall of strips or meters and the delays that occur around shipping and transport … Further we note that no New Zealand pilot of the proposed meter with users has yet been conducted. This should be a pre-requisite.” and if so has this submission affected his view of Pharmac’s provisional contract? 
Hon TONY RYALL 
: There have been a number of submissions. Many are opposed; some are in favour. What is quite clear is that Pharmac wants to make sure that it can do the best that it can for people with diabetes. But we are in a situation where there is limited funding in the health budget and we must make sure that every dollar gets the best value for all patients. We had similar concerns in 2005 when under the previous Government subsidised testing-strips were restricted. There were claims that there would be widespread concern from people with diabetes. As we have seen subsequently we have managed our way through that. 
Hon Maryan Street 
: I seek leave to table the submission from Diabetes NZ Auckland to which I have just referred.  
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought for that purpose. Is there anyone opposed to that course of action? There appears not. Leave is granted. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House. 
Hon Maryan Street 
: I further seek leave to table this message from Joel an 11-year-old diabetic who came from New Plymouth today to attend a protest about Pharmac’s proposed contract. I seek leave to table this message. 
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER 
: It is not in the normal form of messages that we would table in this House but I will put it to the House. Is there anyone opposed to that course of action? There is. [ 
Interruption 
] Order! I am on my feet.