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: 21 February 2013. Volume:687;Page:8100. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
5. 
Hon MARYAN STREET (Labour) 
 to the  
Minister of Health 
: What reports has he received about the estimated revenue to be generated or savings to be made from the increase in prescription charges from $3 to $5 an item? 
Hon TONY RYALL (Minister of Health) 
: 
 Including articles letters ministry reports and suchlike as well as other documents then I have received a number of reports—too many to list. The $2 per item increase or maximum increase of $40 a year per family is the first increase in 20 years and it has helped fund cost pressures in new initiatives in health this year of $20 million. 
Hon Maryan Street 
: Given the Commerce Commission’s strongly held view that the compulsory levying in the community Pharmacy Services Agreement of $5 per prescription item was the same as price fixing and breached section 27 of the Commerce Act what estimates has he received for savings or revenue if pharmacists choose not to charge the $5 amount? 
Hon TONY RYALL 
: The information that I have received is that this should not have a significant impact on any of the estimates of the revenue. 
Hon Maryan Street 
: Has he seen the reports of Joe Tiller of the Linwood Community Pharmacy in Christchurch refusing to charge $5 an item and being inundated with customers as a result; does this indicate anything to him about the affordability of medicines for people? 
Hon TONY RYALL 
: Yes I have seen those reports. 
Hon Maryan Street 
: Has he seen reports of pharmacists already with shelves full of prescriptions waiting to be picked up and how does he think this trend will impact on revenue or savings from the prescription charge increase? 
Hon TONY RYALL 
: Yes I have seen the picture the member is holding before in the House. I would say to members of the public that if they do have concerns about their ability to meet prescription charges they should discuss them with their general practitioner or their pharmacist or seek support from Work and Income New Zealand. The additional revenue raised from this prescription charge is being used in the health services to fund the expansion of cancer treatment services and additional support for others in the public health service. 
Hon Maryan Street 
: Has he seen reports of correspondence he has received regarding the prescription charge increase released under the Official Information Act to  
Pharmacy Today 
 in which at least one pharmacist has said these changes will seriously compromise patients’ safety; if so what has he done to mitigate such risks? 
Hon TONY RYALL 
: I think the feedback in various reports is different. What I can tell that member is that the Government has made it quite clear. This is the first increase for 20 years. The increase is essentially an inflation adjustment. The additional money is going into providing more cancer treatment services and cheaper doctors’ visits for under-sixes. But those who do have difficulty meeting prescription charges should talk to their doctor their pharmacist or Work and Income which is able to assist. 
Hon Maryan Street 
: I seek leave to table a letter from the Commerce Commission to a lawyer acting on behalf of the district health boards advising that it is their strongly held view that the compulsory levy clause is in breach of the Commerce Act. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table the letter from the Commerce Commission. Is there any objection? There appears to be none. It can be tabled. 









Document by leave laid on the Table of the House. 
Hon Maryan Street 
: I seek leave to table the resulting letter from the district health boards to all pharmacies saying they no longer have to comply with the clause that they have been compelled to agree— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table a letter from the district health boards. Is there any objection to that course of action? There appears to be none. It shall be tabled. 









Document by leave laid on the Table of the House. 
Hon Maryan Street 
: I seek leave to table the February edition of  
Pharmacy Today 
 
with the headline— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: No. [ 
Interruption 
] No. Order! That is something that is available to members. It is supplied to most members in the House. 
Hon Maryan Street 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I was very careful to listen to your explanation on Tuesday as to which items might be presented to the House. This is a subscription-only magazine. It comes out monthly. It is not— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The easiest way— 
Hon Maryan Street 
: —a daily newspaper. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I accept the point. The easiest way to resolve the matter is to put the leave. Is there any objection to  
Pharmacy Today  
being tabled in the House? Yes there is. There is objection.