Scahill et al1 describe the landscape for New Zealand pharmacy and touch on the role of Pharmaceutical Management Agency (PHARMAC) and its impact on pharmacy.

We accept that PHARMAC's work has an impact on what pharmacists do, but we are committed to minimising that impact as much as possible. In recent years we have been working to remove 'niggles' from the work of pharmacists, and this has included reviewing and, where appropriate, removing Special Authority requirements for medicines and looking closely at dispensing rules.

Part of this involves listening to the feedback we receive, both informally and through formal consultation processes. Scahill et al refer to a "recent example is the need for community pharmacists to check the scope of practice of the prescriber for every prescription received". This was proposed by PHARMAC, but as a result of the feedback we have received, we changed our approach and no longer propose to include such references.

Rather than an example of PHARMAC's hand hindering pharmacy, this is a good illustration of PHARMAC's determination to work cooperatively with pharmacy, listen to feedback and remove unnecessary obstacles where we can.

Rachel Mackay
Manager, Schedule and Contracts
PHARMAC, Wellington