David Seymour says two of Australasia's largest medical conferences will come to New Zealand next year. Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii
Associate Health Minister David Seymour says medical conferences can happen in New Zealand now, because the government is lifting advertising restrictions on medicines.
Two of Australasia's largest medical conferences will come to New Zealand next year, and the government is talking up estimates they could add $5 million to the local economy.
Seymour said the advertising restrictions were brought in because of fears pharmaceutical companies could try to skirt approvals processes, but his Regulations Ministry found that approach was out of step with other countries.
He said advertising medicines at a conference was one of the main reasons to hold one.
"We have got rid of the restriction on advertising new medicines, so there's good reasons for doctors to come to New Zealand and learn about them. Before we made this change, New Zealand doctors would go to places like Fiji for a medical conference, which is nice for them, but bad for the New Zealand economy, because the money's going over there," Seymour said.
The 2026 conferences are for the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA) and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (RANZCO), and could attract an estimated 3300 delegates.
"You're going to see a whole lot of mainly doctors but medical professionals interested in learning about new medicines and technologies and that they're going to join together in New Zealand, and it's going to just be a wonderful thing," Seymour said.
"It's the kind of activity we should want in this country. You know, I've long said New Zealand should try to be the ancient Athens of the modern world, the centre of medical science and excellence."
Seymour in a statement said the government was committed to removing red tape, and the lifting of restrictions would make it easier for health professionals to keep up with the latest products and medicines.
"New Zealand's current health regulations can be overly bureaucratic, and this is slowing down access to care, increasing costs, and making it harder for patients to get the services they need."
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