For the past few years, former broadcaster and journalist Rachel Smalley has been advocating for change in how our country funds medicine. 

Currently, Pharmac is the crown entity that decides which medicines to fund for use by New Zealanders. 

But Pharmac has become a dirty word to many people with life-threatening or rare illnesses, who struggle to access the drugs they need to treat their condition. 

Despite years of advocacy on this subject, Smalley has struggled to gain an interview with Pharmac’s top brass to address the criticisms of how they operate. So, she made an Official Information Act request to find out why – and the resulting emails she received have sparked outrage and calls for the CEO to quit.    

Today, on The Front Page, Smalley is here to explain to Damien her battle with Pharmac, and what it says about the state of drug-buying agency.  

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Damien Venuto
Producers: Paddy Fox and Shaun D Wilson
Executive Producer: Ethan Sills

For the past few years, former broadcaster and journalist Rachel Smalley has been advocating for change in how our country funds medicine. 
Currently, Pharmac is the crown entity that decides which medicines to fund for use by New Zealanders. 
But Pharmac has become a dirty word to many people with life-threatening or rare illnesses, who struggle to access the drugs they need to treat their condition. 
Despite years of advocacy on this subject, Smalley has struggled to gain an interview with Pharmac’s top brass to address the criticisms of how they operate. So, she made an Official Information Act request to find out why – and the resulting emails she received have sparked outrage and calls for the CEO to quit.    
Today, on The Front Page, Smalley is here to explain to Damien her battle with Pharmac, and what it says about the state of drug-buying agency.  
Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.
Host: Damien Venuto Producers: Paddy Fox and Shaun D Wilson Executive Producer: Ethan Sills

Go beyond the headlines with The Front Page, the New Zealand Herald’s daily news podcast. Each weekday Chelsea Daniels unpacks the stories shaping Aotearoa, from what’s happening in our own backyard to global events shaping our future.

Every episode we speak to leaders, experts, reporters, and those living the story, so you get the full picture. 

Subscribe now so you never miss an episode.

Go beyond the headlines with The Front Page, the New Zealand Herald&rsquo;s daily news podcast. Each weekday Chelsea Daniels unpacks the stories shaping Aotearoa, from what&rsquo;s happening in our own backyard to global events shaping our future.
Every episode we speak to leaders, experts, reporters, and those living the story, so you get the full picture.&nbsp;
Subscribe now so you never miss an episode.

Every day, The Front Page takes you behind the scenes of the biggest story from the New Zealand Herald. Hosted by Damien Venuto

The Front Page

Go beyond the headlines with The Front Page, the New Zealand Herald’s daily news analysis podcast. Each weekday Chelsea Daniels unpacks the stories shaping Aotearoa, from what’s happening in our own backyard to global events shaping our future. Every episode we speak to leaders, experts, reporters, and those living the story, so you get the full picture. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode.

Go beyond the headlines with The Front Page, the New Zealand Herald&rsquo;s daily news analysis podcast. Each weekday Chelsea Daniels unpacks the stories shaping Aotearoa, from what&rsquo;s happening in our own backyard to global events shaping our future. Every episode we speak to leaders, experts, reporters, and those living the story, so you get the full picture. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode.