MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate use
3 October 2015
Patients deserve better than having their health system becoming a swallowed dead rat in trade deal
“New Zealand patients deserve much better than to have their taxpayer funded health system becoming a swallowed dead rat
as a result of the controversial Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA),” says Ian Powell, Executive Director of the
Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS).
Mr Powell was responding to reports that a deal on the TPPA in Atlanta is close and Trade Minister Tim Groser’s comments
about New Zealand having to swallow dead rats.
“One of the immediate consequences is expected to be that American drug companies will increase their monopoly power by
extending their drug patents a further three years to eight. Either patients or taxpayers will have to pay for this.”
Mr Powell observed that it was bizarre that a supposed ‘free’ trade agreement increased the power of overseas monopolies
over New Zealanders’ public health system.
“If leaked reports are correct, New Zealand’s well performing drug purchasing agency Pharmac will be reduced to being
like Georgia playing the All Blacks in rugby. Pharmac will try hard, might occasionally get across the goal line, but
will always be well beaten.”
At the same time, says Mr Powell, kiwis would find their sovereignty over New Zealand’s public health system reduced as
overseas investors will have increased powers to undermine important health initiatives in tobacco, alcohol, and sugary
drinks control.
“New Zealander’s right to a high quality public health system that deserves to be respected by our government rather
than treated as a dead rat” commented Mr Powell.
ENDS