Photo: RNZ / LUKE MCPAKE
Pharmac chief executive Sarah Fitt has resigned from her role.
The drug funding agency made the formal announcement in a statement on Friday.
"The Board of Pharmac wishes to announce that its Chief Executive for the last 7 years, Sarah Fitt, has resigned effective from 30 May 2025, with her taking a period of leave in April and May. Pharmac will commence its recruitment for a new CEO shortly."
It comes after a submission built off a 100,000 signature petition calling for her to be sacked was presented to Parliament's health select committee in December 2024.
Fitt has had a turbulent time as CEO since 2018, with repeated calls for her resignation.
They were perhaps at a height in 2023 when emails released to journalist Rachel Smalley under the Official Information Act revealed what critics called a "sneering and contemptuous" tone among some Pharmac staff.
Fitt had sent an email with the subject line "Sigh...." about a Smalley column about cancer patients who would have died if they relied on the public health system.
One of her staff members had joked about making Smalley cry.
Patients and a top haematologist were among those calling for her resignation, and she was accused of being out of touch with their experience.
At the end of last year, the agency was under fire for making changes to hormone replacement therapy patch brands.
The Pharmac Minister, David Seymour and the chairwoman Paula Bennett refused to express confidence in Fitt at the time.
Pharmac backtracked on the issue just a few weeks later.
Associate Health Minister David Seymour, acknowledged the resignation and thanked Fitt for her service.
"Since becoming minister responsible for Pharmac I have been impressed by Sarah's commitment to focussing Pharmac on its core role of expanding opportunities and access for patients.
"I acknowledge Sarah's decision to step down from the role and thank her for her work in providing modern healthcare for New Zealanders.
"I wish her all the very best for the future".
In recent weeks a number of top health officials have announced their resignations including the Director-General of Health, Diana Sarfati and Health New Zealand chief executive Fepulea'i Margie Apa.
Director of Public Health Dr Nicholas Jones also announced he would be stepping down and returning to his regular role.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
