Associate Professor Dr Ryan Paul, a clinician and technical expert advisor to Te Tiratū, has expressed serious concern in an interview with 1News about proposed changes to funding criteria for type 2 diabetes medicines. He warns that removing ethnicity-based access pathways could deepen existing inequities for Māori and Pacific peoples.
The proposed Pharmac changes would expand general access to medicines such as empagliflozin, liraglutide, and dulaglutide, but would remove targeted pathways that currently acknowledge the higher burden of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and kidney disease experienced by Māori and Pacific populations.
Te Tiratū co-chair Glen Tupuhi notes that equity-focused pathways were introduced because the health system has repeatedly failed to deliver fair outcomes for Māori, who are diagnosed earlier, experience more severe disease, and have higher rates of premature mortality from preventable long-term conditions.
Māori clinicians and health leaders have cautioned that the proposed shift could undo one of the most effective equity interventions introduced in recent years.
The consultation closes on 28 May 2026.