New RMI chair focuses on quality

The Researched Medicines Industry has undergone major changes recently,
appointing Denise Wood as chief executive in 2009, and more recently, Lex Henry as
chair. Change is good, so they say, and Mr Henry is looking forward to the challenge.

Pharmacy Today asked how this Auckland-based lawyer, chair of merchant bank
Cranleigh, director of Ngai Tahu Properties and MedTech and member of the
Auckland University of Technology council and AUT Millennium Institute became
interested in joining the RMI.

He says he has been exposed to the health sector through his various business
interests, notably through MedTech and Cranleigh, and also through his wife who
works in primary care. He is particularly interested in the strategy of healthcare, not
how much is spent on health, but how wisely money is allocated and distributed.

"It fascinates me that a health sector has gone through so much change, politically,
economically, or just by way of management and we still haven't got it right."

Mr Henry admits he may not be able to change the entire sector because "you can't
herd cats", but says he would like to see people discussing the issues that are actually
relevant to New Zealanders.

Top of the list is creating a patient-centric sector. "Second, that we get transparency
and information to allow discussions to take place which gives a balance between
good economic outcomes versus good health outcomes."

Mr Henry would also like to see New Zealand taking a front seat at the international
table in big Pharma but not to ignore all the other opportunities that exist around
nutrapharmaceuticals and therapeutics.

He says there should be an emphasis on the trans-Pacific partnership, and a better
intellectual property protection regime to protect our pharmaceutical industry.

If this happens New Zealand can lead the way in terms of pharmaceutical research
because of the population, skills and size of the country.

"These opportunities should be grabbed," Mr Henry says.

He will be discussing his ideas at the RMI AGM in March, and hopes a clear direction
on where the RMI will be focused will arise from this meeting.

Mr Henry replaced Pippa MacKay who resigned in October 2009.

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