Former Labour MP and minister Steve Maharey has resigned from the boards of Pharmac and ACC.

He got in trouble earlier this year after penning opinion columns flouting the political neutrality expected of public service board members.

There were also calls for his resignation after inappropriate emails were sent within Pharmac about journalist Rachel Smalley.

Patient Voice Aotearoa's Malcolm Mulholland told Heather du Plessis-Allan he's pleased to see Maharey go.

Mulholland says he's hoping Chief Executive Sarah Fitt is the next to exit.

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