Stewart Barbara: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Stewart Barbara: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 13 November 2012. Volume:685;Page:6501. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
10. 
BARBARA STEWART (NZ First) 
 to the  
Minister of Health 
: Is he satisfied that District Health Boards have done enough to promote understanding of the Pharmacy Services Agreement? 
Hon JO GOODHEW (Acting Minister of Health) 
: 
 From the latest advice I have received I am satisfied that district health boards are generally on track with implementing the new agreement which has the support of the Pharmacy Guild and most pharmacists. The new agreement is a complex project transitioning 947 pharmacies to a more patient-centred service arrangement. This is the biggest change to our pharmacy services in over 50 years and with the complexity of the change there have been a small number of businesses that have raised issues. 
Barbara Stewart 
: What feedback has he received on the agreement from individual community pharmacy owners? 
Hon JO GOODHEW 
: It is very difficult for me to answer that in terms of the individual feedback that the Minister has had. However I am aware that what has been set in place for individual pharmacies that have concerns is that each of the district health boards has appointed a portfolio manager who will liaise with the pharmacies that have any queries or questions. There have been workshops throughout the country—some 30 workshops—on long-term conditions and they have been resoundingly endorsed by the pharmacists appearing at those workshops in large numbers. So what I can say is that feedback to the Minister and certainly to the sector has meant that there have been lots of ways in which the pharmacists can work through the issues over this 3-year transition period. 
Barbara Stewart 
: As audit issues emerge is there the ability to respond quickly enough to ensure that the district health board funds are not used inappropriately? 
Hon JO GOODHEW 
: I have not been advised of any audit issues. I have been advised nevertheless that there certainly are issues that are being worked through regarding how this will transition and how it will roll out. I do want to reassure the member again that in fact there is a good process in place to work through the issues as they arise. I would encourage her to bring any audit issues to the attention of the Minister if they have not been brought to the attention of the portfolio managers in the district health boards. 
Barbara Stewart 
: When will he institute a review via the DHB Shared Services as to how the agreement is actually working so as to close the loopholes—the many loopholes—that have been identified by pharmacists; if he will not why not? 
Hon JO GOODHEW 
: I think it would be premature to talk about a review when we are talking about a 3-year process that is unequivocally changing the way pharmacy funding is delivered to a much more patient-centred focus than ever before. Over 3 years the issues that are raised will be worked through. It is this Government’s belief that this is a much better way to look after the pharmacy needs of patients—working together with general practice with pharmacists and with the patients. Three years for transition is a long time. Maybe a review at the end of that? I guess that will be the time when we should ask the Minister.