From the Chair.

It has been a long, uphill battle to get ustekinumab (Stelara) and vedolizumab (Entyvio) funded. For the past five years we gave testimony to the Pharmac Review Committee, petitioned Parliament, marched through the streets of the country’s capital, and were vocal on television, radio, and in the press. It is time to sit back for a moment, reflect, and take a breath.

It has been a good year in many regards. In addition to new medications being funded, Camp Purple has 100 campers registered for next month, we had our second Young Adult Seminar in Christchurch, we had a successful event at Parliament to raise awareness for World IBD Day, and several of the support groups have been revitalised. However, many people with IBD are still struggling with a medical system that often falls short of delivering basic care.

In July we saw the disestablishment of the DHBs and the creation of one central agency, Te Whatu Ora (Health NZ). It was envisioned this would create equity in health care. Are people living in the Wairarapa, West Coast, and Tarawhiti receiving the same care as those in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch? Do they have access to IBD nurses? Are they getting surveillance colonoscopies on time? Should people be traveling hours for a fifteen-minute appointment with a specialist?

These are issues we need to address. Change will not happen unless we continue to make our voices heard. I am privileged to be on a Board that has made advocacy a priority. I feel especially privileged to be part of the IBD community and to have met and worked with so many extraordinary people, many of whom have become close friends. On behalf of our Board, I hope everyone has a happy holiday season and, especially, a healthy 2023.