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Navigating the New Zealand health sector

Living through a global pandemic has reminded us of the significant role the health sector plays in the economy and more generally, the lives of people. Earlier this year, the Government announced a number of fundamental changes to the operation of our health care system. Now, more than ever, our clients require legal advisors who can help them navigate our complex and challenging health sector in novel and uncertain times.

Expertise

We provide advice on a wide range of areas and issues spanning the health sector, including:

  • significant acquisitions, capital investments and project delivery;
  • high profile litigation that is at the forefront of the health profession;
  • health policy and regulation;
  • Ministry of Health decision making and district health board governance;
  • product regulation; and
  • government health contracts, access to medicines and the human rights and privacy, and data transfer and protection dimensions of health care and policy.

Experience

Our expertise includes advising on:

  • The health sector reform and what the changes will mean for our clients.
  • The impact of COVID-19 on clients including vaccination distribution, COVID-19 testing, employee queries, Alert Level requirements, essential services, MIQ facilities, border control, vaccine passports and the COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund.
  • The regulation of vaping and tobacco products and ongoing reform in this sector.
  • Licensing, advertising, sale and delivery of alcohol.
  • Medicinal cannabis licensing and compliance.
  • Regulation of organic food and drink products.
  • Compliance with the Medicines Act, including medicines classification and licensing issues, and regulation of medical devices.
  • Regulation of psychoactive substances.
  • Regulation of dietary supplements and natural health products.
  • The Therapeutic Products Bill, which is expected to impact the regulation of medicines, medical devices, related products, cosmetics, dietary supplements and e-cigarettes.
  • Health sector mergers and acquisitions.
  • The competition law implications of medical supply contracts with public health bodies, and of various distribution and partnering arrangements in the sector.
  • Principal and contractor side in major capital investments, including Te Nīkau, Grey Hospital & Health Centre.
  • Acting on a range of regulatory investigations and prosecutions for clients in the health sector, including some of the leading prosecutions by the Commerce Commission for the promotion of pharmaceutical products.
  • Acting for some of the global pharmaceutical companies for launching and registering products in New Zealand.
  • Advertising and promotion of health, food and beverage products and services.
  • Advising on cybersecurity breaches and breaches of the Privacy Act.
  • Data transfers within and outside of New Zealand.
  • Representing a range of clients in the industry in relation to judicial review, litigation and Human Rights Review Tribunal cases.