PHARMAC looks to Pasifika community for advisory committee

PHARMAC looks to Pasifika community for new advisory committee members

PHARMAC has appointed three new members to its Consumer Advisory Committee (CAC), all with strong links to the Pasifika community.

The CAC is a statutory committee that provides a patient or consumer perspective to PHARMAC, ensuring that PHARMAC is seeking views and involving community views in its work. Under its Terms of Reference, the committee is required to have at least one member with links to the Pacific community. It currently has eight members.

Chief Executive Steffan Crausaz says the new members will add to the diverse nature of the committee.

“CAC’s strength is its diversity and strong links to communities,” says Steffan Crausaz. “Having a range of backgrounds and views around the committee table ensures that when CAC provides its advice to PHARMAC, we can be sure that it has that depth of community knowledge and experience behind it.”

The new members are:

• David Lui – an Auckland health consultant with extensive links into Pasifika communities and health networks, and considerable experience in mental health and addiction sectors. He has more than 30 years’ experience working with Pacific communities in New Zealand and the Pacific. David was born, raised and educated in Samoa. He holds a degree from the University of Canterbury and has been appointed to CAC as the Pasifika representative.

• Tuiloma Lina Samu – Lina is from Mangere and was raised in a multi-cultural environment, including being educated at the local kura kaupapa. She is a health researcher (currently studying for a PhD at Massey University in Auckland), fluent in five languages, and with strong links to Pasifika and Māori communities in the Auckland region and nationwide.

• Key Frost – Key is a mental health advocate based in Invercargill. Key is a first generation New Zealander of Samoan heritage, with experience and knowledge of mental health issues and mental health networks (particularly in the South Island).

The new members replace Jenny Michel (Auckland), Anna-Marie Mitchell (Christchurch) and Anne Fitisemanu (Auckland), who have all served six-year terms.

The three new members have all been appointed for initial three year terms, which can be renewed.

ENDS

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