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7 October 2011

PHARMAC’s first regional consumer forum in Taupo

PHARMAC and Maurice Gianotti, local member of its Consumer Advisory Committee, are hosting a lunchtime forum in Taupo on 11 October 2011. This is a community opportunity to meet and share views on services and information provided by PHARMAC, the Government’s medicine funding agency. Participants will learn more about PHARMAC and we will learn more about your point of view. In particular, we’ll be talking about:    Ways to work with Māori to better address Māori health needs Getting better connected with consumers and patients using internet and other services A general session to discuss other PHARMAC topics of particular interest to you.

The session will be held from 12.30pm, starting with lunch, followed by discussions and an optional question and answer session until 4pm at the Rural Education Activities Programme (REAP) Centre 73 Titiraupenga Street, Taupo. The Consumer Advisory Committee (CAC) was established by the PHARMAC Board in 2000 to provide input from a consumer or patient point of view on matters relating to PHARMAC’s activities. The CAC‘s primary functions are to provide advice to PHARMAC on how it can best access the diversity of consumer views and consider these when carrying out its role. Consumers are able to provide input directly on the processes involved in the assessment, prioritisation and funding of medicines. CAC can give PHARMAC advice on whether it is getting wide and diverse enough engagement with people in the community. For more information visit www.pharmac.govt.nz/PHARMACforum or email forum@pharmac.govt.nz For media inquiries contact: 021 0248 3515.