How does the operation of PHARMAC's 'Community Exceptional ...

and printed copies of Hansard are also available in the Parliamentary Library. I
used both forms of Hansard in my research.
I also researched all the written public submissions received on the Bill from
members of the public and government departments. These submissions were
only available to be read by appointment in the Parliamentary Library. They
were available in bound bundles of papers in boxes in the library. The
submissions had to be requested prior to each visit. The papers were found
and prepared by the Parliamentary Library staff and were only able to be
photocopied by the staff. I attended the Parliamentary Library on approximately
10 occasions for periods of about 4 hours on each occasion to obtain the
material required for my research.
Walsh vs PHARMAC
Walsh vs PHARMAC was a case in the New Zealand Court of Appeal bought by
Chris Walsh and seven other women against PHARMAC. They appealed an
earlier decision by the High Court to allow PHARMAC to fund a drug called
Herceptin for a nine week course and not a twelve month course of treatment.
The material for this data section was taken from the judge’s written decision on
the case. I have drawn on this decision because it was a legal test of
PHARMAC’s Community Exceptional Circumstances policy and a detailed
investigation into PHARMAC’s policies and procedures.
This was also a rare opportunity to consider perspectives from people and
groups who might otherwise be reluctant to talk or write on such matters,
especially PHARMAC officials. I considered this judgment was important to my
research.
The written judgment was analysed from the perspective of the claims made by
the plaintiffs, the responses made by PHARMAC and the legal issues raised
and discussed by the judge in his judgment.
Media Study
A media study was undertaken of stories which appeared in the media relating
to PHARMAC’s Community Exceptional Circumstances policy. This study
explored the way in which the policy has been portrayed in the media. It was
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