Government agency Pharmac’s chief executive has been heavily criticised by the Health Minister, her own board chair and the Public Service Commissioner for “unacceptable” and “unprofessional” comments about journalist Rachel Smalley and her campaigning efforts to reform the drug-funding entity.

Disdain for Smalley has been revealed in internal Pharmac emails, with CEO Sarah Fitt saying she has “not much of a following”; a senior staff member describing a “nauseating” interview, and a staff member saying she’s “gunna be out of a job” with the closure of Today FM.

Another Pharmac staff member said Smalley would be “mega shitty” about not getting an interview with their CEO while another worker wrote a limerick about Smalley.

NZ Herald

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A contribution from The BFD staff.