PharmacWednesday 22 December 2010, 11:13PM
PHARMAC is welcoming the appointment of three new members to the
Pharmacology and Therapeutics Advisory Committee (PTAC).
PTAC provides expert clinical advice on medicine funding
applications being considered by PHARMAC.
Acting Director-General of Health Andrew Bridgman has appointed
three new members - Assoc Prof Derelie (Dee) Mangin of
Christchurch, Dr Melissa Copland of Queenstown, and Dr Christina
Cameron of Wellington. Their appointments bring the PTAC membership
to 11.
PTAC Chair Prof Carl Burgess says PTAC's advice is a vital part
of PHARMAC's consideration of pharmaceutical funding
applications.
"It's important that PTAC's advice is of the highest quality,
which requires a committee membership with a high level of
expertise and a mix of complementary skills," says Prof
Burgess.
"I am pleased with the expertise of the new appointments and
look forward to the professional knowledge they will bring to the
Committee. The members' skills and experience give the Committee a
solid foundation to provide high-quality independent advice to
PHARMAC on medicines funding decisions."
Members are required to be skilled in the critical appraisal of
medical research, and to have a sound background in clinical
practice. Most members are practising physicians, with some also
having skills in clinical pharmacology.
Mr Bridgman also re-appointed five PTAC members for a further
three year term.
The existing PTAC members are Prof Carl Burgess (Chair), Dr
Howard Wilson, (Deputy Chair, re-appointed), Dr Stuart Dalziel, Dr
Graham Mills (re-appointed), Dr Ian Hosford (re-appointed), Dr
George Laking (re-appointed), Dr Mark Weatherall (re-appointed) and
Dr Sisira Jayathissa