Event: Valuing Life - New Zealand Medicines Access Summit

Hosted in Wellington at the NZ Parliament Buildings, October 2025

New Zealand stands at a crossroads in medicine access. Advances in science, shifts in global policy, and growing patient advocacy are demanding a new kind of conversation - one that is inclusive, strategic, and future-focused.

Vanessa Jenkins and Dr Malcolm Mulholland, Chair of Patient Voice Aotearoa

Medicines Access Summit was designed to spark exactly that conversation, bringing together clinical leaders, patient voices, government decision-makers, and industry experts. The aim: to co-create a pathway that improves access to medicines for all New Zealanders. The overarching theme of “Collaboratively Creating the Future” serves as both a call to action and a commitment - to listen deeply, think boldly, and act with purpose.

Building on the discussions and feedback from the 2024 Summit, this year’s event once again brought together an incredible mix of people from across diverse sectors. Representatives from the New Zealand Government, Pharmac, non-government and not-for-profit organisations, patient groups, clinical trial CEOs, and key stakeholders joined in open dialogue about the challenges and opportunities in medicines access here in New Zealand.

Workshops throughout the summit tackled big issues - from improving processes and policies through transparent, timely, and equitable systems, to unlocking innovation and strengthening the health research and clinical trials ecosystem. Other sessions explored legislation in transition, future-proofing and optimising medicines regulation and procurement, and ensuring sustainable funding for modern medicines within the health system.

What became clear throughout the event was that Pharmac and the Government are ready for change - ready to listen, to engage, and to work collaboratively to create meaningful, lasting improvements in how New Zealanders access the medicines they need.

VJ.