The boss of Pharmac has come under fire today for writing disparaging emails about journalist Rachel Smalley.

Sarah Fitt wrote several emails to her team about Smalley and in one of them Fitt shares one of Smalley's articles about cancer patients with the subject line "sigh".

Other emails have staff members making fun of the journalist, writing a limerick about her and celebrating when she lost her job.

Pharmac's chair Steve Maharey called the internal emails unacceptable and unprofessional, and said Fitt had apologised for the language used in the email.

The public service commissioner said the comments were completely unacceptable, and Health Minister Ayesha Verrall said she was disappointed.

Smalley spoke to Heather about what happened.

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