Articles tagged with Seymour
Pharmac Proposes Funding for Life-Saving Treatments: Minister's Positive Outlook
1 day ago | 51 viewsAssociate Health Minister David Seymour and Health Minister Simeon Brown are pleased with Pharmac's negotiations to increase access to medicines, recognizing the significant impact on New Zealanders' health and well-being. Pharmac's proposal includes funding for five new treatments for various conditions, potentially benefiting over 1,700 people in the first year and up to 4,000 by year five. The proposal aims to improve patient care by introducing quicker administration methods, saving hospital infusion hours and freeing up resources for other treatments, while also emphasizing the importance of public consultation in decision-making processes.
Tags: David Seymour Simeon Brown Pharmac New Zealanders medicines proposal treatments healthcare clinicians consultationRegRoom: Minister David Seymour Launches Online Hub to Improve Regulations
2 weeks ago | 167 viewsRegRoom, launched by Regulation Minister David Seymour, aims to enhance regulations and enforcement by providing an online platform for government regulators to learn best practices and connect with each other. The Ministry for Regulation is addressing regulatory burden through revising old regulations, improving new regulations, and raising the quality of regulators to ensure Kiwis' rights are respected. RegRoom offers learning modules and Quick Guides to teach regulators key skills such as assessing potential regulations, addressing high-risk harms, and communicating clearly with regulated parties, which have been internationally recognized as world-leading.
Tags: Regulation Minister David Seymour RegRoom regulators Kiwis rules Ministry for Regulation good regulation regulators skillsHave Your Say: Kiwis Invited to Shape Telecommunications Regulatory Changes
4 weeks ago | 266 viewsKiwis are encouraged to provide input on proposed regulatory changes in the telecommunications sector, as their feedback is crucial to the review process, according to Ministers David Seymour and Paul Goldsmith. The review focuses on key regulatory issues such as the Telecommunications Development Levy (TDL), shareholder caps, and service quality regulations. Proposed draft changes include implementing a consumer code, updating infrastructure obligations, eliminating outdated rules, and enhancing investor appeal for telecom companies to boost growth in the sector.
Tags: David Seymour Paul Goldsmith Telecommunications sector Regulatory change Telecommunications Development Levy Retail Service Quality Fibre Fixed Line Access Telecommunications service obligations Telecommunication services Commerce CommissionRecord Attendance Trends in Schools Signal Positive Shifts for Education System
1 month ago | 271 viewsSince Term 1 of 2024, attendance rates in schools have consistently increased each term compared to the previous year, with Term 2 of this year seeing a notable rise to 58.4% from 53.4% in Term 2 of the previous year. Associate Education Minister David Seymour highlights improvements in attendance across all regions, with a significant decrease in chronic absence rates. Plans are underway to enforce stricter attendance measures, including mandatory school attendance management plans aligned with the STAR program by 2026, with prosecution as a last resort for parents who persistently fail to ensure their children attend school. A $140 million budget allocation in 2025 aims to enhance attendance rates over the next four years to promote positive educational outcomes and long-term benefits for students.
Tags: Term 1 2024 Attendance David Seymour Education Minister Taranaki Whanganui Manawatū STAR Prosecution Budget 2025New Zealand's Medsafe Achieves Record Approval Speeds for Life-Saving Medicines
1 month ago | 405 viewsAssociate Health Minister David Seymour highlights that Medsafe has been improving its efficiency in approving new medicines, with significant reductions in evaluation timeframes for both innovative and generic medicines. The implementation of initiatives like the Rule of Two and leveraging AI technology are expected to further expedite the approval processes. The focus is on ensuring faster access to vital medications for New Zealanders, with a commitment to a regulatory system that prioritizes timely approval without compromising safety.
Tags: Medsafe David Seymour New Zealanders pharmaceuticals Rule of Two AI Medicines Amendment Bill Bleriplex medicine Omjjaro TyrukoMinistry for Regulation Launches Sector Review to Streamline Product Labelling Regulations
1 month ago | 520 viewsMinisters Seymour and Simpson have announced a Ministry for Regulation review to address the high costs and complexities of New Zealand's product labelling regulations, which hinder affordability and global competitiveness. The current system, comprising over 30 codes and standards, imposes unnecessary compliance burdens on businesses, leading to increased prices and limited wage growth. The review aims to streamline regulations, reduce compliance costs, and enhance Kiwi goods' competitiveness internationally, with a focus on benefiting both businesses and consumers by simplifying the labelling process.
Tags: David Seymour Scott Simpson Minister for Regulation Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Kiwis New Zealand labelling regulations businesses consumers compliance costsInnovative Charter Schools to Open in Auckland and Warkworth in Term 1 2026
1 month ago | 345 viewsAssociate Education Minister David Seymour has announced two new charter schools, Te Kāpehu Whetū – Tamaki and The Forest School, to open in Term 1 2026, joining the eight existing successful charter schools. Te Kāpehu Whetū – Tamaki in Auckland will offer boarding and dual-language education in Te reo Māori and English for students in years 11-13, focusing on cultural links and recognized qualifications. The Forest School in Warkworth will provide primary students with outdoor-focused learning experiences to engage and inspire children, with proven success in improving educational outcomes for underachieving students.
Tags: David Seymour Te Kāpehu Whetū Tamaki The Forest School Tōtara Point School Auckland Whangarei Warkworth Te reo Māori KiwiNew Regulations to Ease Building Restrictions for Kiwi Homeowners
1 month ago | 425 viewsRegulation Minister David Seymour and Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk announce changes to reduce red tape for homeowners building garden sheds, sleepouts, or garages by the end of the year. Cabinet has agreed to remove minimum distance requirements and reduce setback distances for single-storey buildings, making it easier and cheaper for property owners to build structures. The changes aim to address frustrations with regulations, improve affordability, and allow homeowners more freedom to utilize their property without the need for building consent, with expectations for implementation by late 2025.
Tags: Red Tape Tipline homeowners garden sheds sleepouts garages Regulation Minister David Seymour Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk setback distance building consent property ownersPharmac's Cost Reductions for New Medicines: Minister Seymour's Positive Impact
1 month ago | 790 viewsAssociate Education Minister David Seymour supports Pharmac's decision to lower the cost of certain funded medicines in order to allocate more funding for new medicines, emphasizing the critical impact of pharmaceutical funding on the lives of New Zealanders. The annual tender process allows Pharmac to save between $30 million and $50 million annually by reducing costs of existing medicines to fund new ones. Pharmac has implemented additional consultation steps in the tender process to gather feedback from patients, healthcare professionals, and advocacy groups, aiming for a more patient-centric approach in decision-making.
Tags: David Seymour Pharmac medicines funding New Zealand annual tender generic competition patents consultation Natalie McMurtryNew Legislation Enhancing Early Childhood Education Regulation for Child Safety and Clarity
1 month ago | 616 viewsAssociate Education Minister David Seymour has introduced new legislation to clarify the purpose of regulating early childhood education (ECE) and shift enforcement responsibilities to the Education Review Office (ERO) from the Ministry of Education. The Early Childhood Education Reform Bill prioritizes child safety, aims to reduce regulatory burden on ECE providers, and ensure consistent application of regulations nationwide. The reforms include creating a Director of Regulation, establishing key principles for ECE oversight, and streamlining processes to support high-quality ECE centers and enhance parental choice.
Tags: David Seymour Education Minister legislation early childhood education ECE Education Review Office Ministry of Education child safety regulations Director of RegulationManufacturing Regulations Simplified for Safety and Efficiency
1 month ago | 537 viewsWorkplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden is consulting with manufacturers, such as wood processors, bakers, and millers, to simplify machine guarding rules and review exposure standards in the manufacturing sector. The proposed changes aim to align standards with real-world risks and international benchmarks, addressing concerns about clarity and compliance burden. The review will also consider updating Workplace Exposure Standards for substances like wood dust and flour dust to ensure practicality and alignment with safety measures, aiming to reduce costs and stress for businesses.
Tags: Brooke van Velden manufacturers Workplace Relations and Safety Minister wood processors bakers millers WorkSafe inspectors Health and Safety in Employment Regulations Workplace Exposure Standards Mr SeymourNew Guidelines for Prescribing Psilocybin to Treat Depression Welcomed by Associate Health Minister
2 months ago | 566 viewsAssociate Health Minister David Seymour supports the publication of guidelines by Medsafe for prescribing Psilocybin to treat depression, aligning New Zealand with Australia. The guidelines require practitioners to meet specific criteria, including registration with the Medical Council and expertise in psychedelic-assisted therapy. Approval allows experienced psychiatrists to prescribe Psilocybin to patients with treatment-resistant depression, with the potential for more practitioners to follow suit, expanding access to this treatment option.
Tags: David Seymour Medsafe Psilocybin Depression New Zealand Australia Psychiatrist Medical Council Psychotherapeutic processes GuidelinesPharmac’s New Consumer Working Group: Resetting the Patient-Pharmac Relationship for Better Health Outcomes
2 months ago | 799 viewsAssociate Education Minister David Seymour welcomes Pharmac's new consumer working group to improve its collaboration with health consumers, emphasizing the importance of patient input in decision-making processes. The working group, led by Dr. Malcolm Mulholland, includes members representing various health conditions, aiming to reset the relationship between Pharmac and the consumer community. The government's support includes increased funding for Pharmac to negotiate better deals for medicine and enhance access for patients and their families.
Tags: David Seymour Malcolm Mulholland Pharmac Consumer working group Patient advocacy Patient engagement Health consumers Medicines Patient Voice Aotearoa New ZealandersPharmac Innovations: Driving Access to Life-saving Medicines for Kiwis
2 months ago | 712 viewsAssociate Health Minister David Seymour has outlined clear expectations for Pharmac to enhance innovation and optimize services for better healthcare delivery to New Zealanders. Pharmac has made improvements in consultation processes, funding criteria adjustments, and appointed new leadership to drive positive change. The focus is on modernizing Pharmac, adopting AI technologies, engaging stakeholders proactively, and increasing transparency to ensure timely access to medicines and medical devices for all Kiwis.
Tags: David Seymour Natalie McMurtry Pharmac Kiwis New Zealanders Government AI Stakeholders Regulatory systemNew Zealand Welcomes Major Medical Conferences: Economic Boost Expected
2 months ago | 665 viewsRegulation Minister David Seymour and Health Minister Simeon Brown welcome ANZCA and RANZCO medical conferences coming to New Zealand in 2026, with 3300 delegates expected, generating millions in economic activity. ANZCA will bring 1500 delegates, injecting over $3 million, while RANZCO's congress will host 1800 delegates, contributing more than $2 million. The Government's move to end the prohibition on advertising medicines at conferences aims to boost the economy, provide knowledge to medical professionals, and enhance access to healthcare innovations.
Tags: Regulation Minister David Seymour Health Minister Simeon Brown ANZCA RANZCO medical conferences economic activity pharmaceutical companies medical professionals