Where everybody else in the world isprepared to spend money, excepting her heartless Governmentand Minister

Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Leader,NZ First) to thePrime Minister: Does she have confidence in the Rosetta Stone Minister ofHealth, if so, why?Rt Hon HELEN CLARK (Prime Minister):Yes, because she is a hard-working and conscientiousMinister.Rt Hon Winston Peters: If she is such ahard-working and conscientious Minister, why is she aMinister who says that the efficacy of Alzheimers drugs hasnot been proven, when Canada, UK, Australia, USA, LatinAmerica, and Western Europe all make those drugs publiclyavailable, or is this just another example of inexcusable,inexplicable, heartless cost-cutting?Rt Hon HELEN CLARK:No, none of the above. This country has very carefulmechanisms for assessing what drugs it is appropriate tofund, and I am not aware that those mechanisms andprocedures have changed substantially in recent years, atall.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Why does not the PrimeMinister inform herself of the facts before she rises andmakes a statement like that, when Canada, UK, Australia,USA, Latin America, and Western Europe,nearly all the FirstWorld,recognise that these drugs do work, and make thempublicly available, whilst her Minister is demanding thatPharmac do a trial to find out what everybody else in theworld knows, and where everybody else in the world isprepared to spend money, excepting her heartless Governmentand Minister?Rt Hon HELEN CLARK: I can only repeat thatgetting value for money is very important, and that does notmean paying any price for any drug that a pharmaceuticalcompany wants.Dr Lynda Scott: Is the Prime Minister awarethat these drugs are the only treatment available topatients with Alzheimers, and why will they not befunded?Rt Hon HELEN CLARK: I suggest the member put downa question on notice with specific reference to the questionof Alzheimers drugs. It is this Governments determinationto provide proper treatment for people across the range ofconditions. It is also a fact that we consider healthsufficiently important to have it as a front-benchportfolio.Rt Hon Winston Peters: I raise a point oforder, Mr Speaker. The Prime Minister might think that it isimportant by placing Rosetta Stone Spanish Latin someone on the front bench, but beinginformed about it is not what she is demonstrating today.She should not, having attempted to answer two questionsalready, then pretend that she has adequately answered thisHouse by saying put down a written question . She has beenasked why the only drug proven worldwide is being denied tothe thousands of sufferers in this country, and,Rt HonHELEN CLARK: Speaking to the point of order.Rt HonWinston Peters: No, I have not finished yet. Sit down! I amon my feet.Mr SPEAKER: The member will please be seated.The member does not have to be rude. The member had notfinished and I was going to allow him to continue. Would heplease continue?Rt Hon Winston Peters: I raise a point oforder, Mr Speaker.Mr SPEAKER: No, the member is within apoint of order.Rt Hon Winston Peters: No. My point oforder is that the rudeness commenced with the Prime Ministerthinking that she could rise to her feet when a point oforder is being properly made. If you want to point torudeness, then you should point to her.Mr SPEAKER: I willmake the decision on that. The Prime Minister rose Rosetta Stone American English thinkingthat the member had finished. The member had not finishedand I was going to let him carry on. Would the member pleasecarry on.