Eliminating a small co-payment appears to have had a substantial effect on patients’ risk of being hospitalised.

Considering the recent advancements in economic evaluation methods, it is timely to rethink the role of the societal perspective in HTA guidelines and adopt a more comprehensive perspective to include all costs and consequences of healthcare services.

The recent publication of the interim report of the PHARMAC Review Panel raises important questions of the role and processes of PHARMAC in securing equitable access to pharmaceuticals for all New Zealanders.