PHARMAC runs a tender for off-patent medicines each year, and it’s a big process. Typically it’s 400-500 line items of products, some involving multiple offers which have to be individually analysed. It’s important for PHARMAC, yielding savings that the agency can then redirect into other new medicines. Chloe Dimock has been at the centre of the tender process for two years as a PHARMAC tender analyst. The tender analyst manages the process throughout, working across the PHARMAC team. She describes it as “making sure the process is commercially and legally robust”, combining work from multiple people including external advisers on the Tender Medical Subcommittee. “That’s the thing that I love – you get to work pretty much with everyone at PHARMAC as well as a lot of contact with stakeholders and I really enjoy that.”

“It’s something that will help resolve some common issues, and will help make our process more transparent to suppliers. It makes them aware of the things we consider.” These days Chloe calls central Wellington home but she grew up in Masterton to parents who emigrated from South Africa when she was very small. Having an anaesthetist father also meant that health sector issues – including PHARMAC – were often discussed in the Dimock household. Her pathway to PHARMAC included studies in nutrition at Otago University, leading to a graduate diploma in pharmacology. After two years running the tender Chloe’s now moving into a slightly different role as a procurement manager, which will involve commercial processes across both medicines and medical devices used in either the community or hospitals. PHARMAC, she says, is “a great group of people to work with – driven, passionate people who really do care for the wellbeing of New Zealanders. It’s a really welcoming environment, that’s what I found and is still the comment I hear from new people who have started. It’s the people who make the place.”  Last updated: 10 December 2015