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

Q You must have looked at thousands of these Community Exceptional
Circumstances cases.
A Yes, literally thousands.
(Interviewee C)
The interview with ‘C’ extracted considerable comment about fairness and gave
a clear description about what ‘C’ saw as the elements of fairness.
and
Fairness is not related to the amount of money a person has, rich or
poor…the amount of money they, the person I mean, has or hasn’t
got. It is not related to sex or religion or ethnicity or indeed age. No,
fairness is a consistent process where everybody is treated the same
way and has the same capacity to get the same sort of things.
Fairness is something about meeting the needs of everyone,
irrespective of each person’s ability to pay. (Interviewee C)
‘C’ made reference to the needs of the individual and the need to manage the
funding and recognised that Community Exceptional Circumstances was an
imperfect system. ‘C’ believed that some people will miss out on the drugs that
would benefit them because there is not enough benefit that can be
demonstrated. On this point ‘C’ felt that the system had been in place for such
a long time that it had legitimacy because of this. ‘C’ claimed that his/her
understanding of Community Exceptional Circumstances was fair; therefore the
Community Exceptional Circumstances scheme was fair.
Well I mean it has worked okay up till now…it has been fair because
I understand it and that is the important thing…so what is the
problem? (Interviewee C)
When asked if it was possible for another doctor or another person or even the
patient to have a different view of fairness, ‘C’ responded:
No not really. Fair is fair. I am the one making the decision and what
I think is fair has to…well…be the right answer. (Interviewee C)
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