It was "wonderful" to have been considered for the position, after being appointed deputy chairman last year, he said.
"It's always good to have Dunedin people involved in these national activities," he said last night.
Pharmac, the country's pharmaceutical management agency, aims to improve New Zealanders' access to medicines and Mr McLauchlan said it delivered drug cost savings of $700 million a year.
He had previously served on several health boards, including the Southern Regional Health Authority for three years in the mid-1990s, and the Clutha Health First board, which runs the Balclutha Hospital and medical centre.
Announcing the Pharmac appointments, which took effect yesterday, Health Minister Tony Ryall said Mr McLauchlan provided "strong financial and governance expertise".
Board member David Kerr, of Christchurch, was reappointed, while Associate Prof Jens Mueller, of Waikato University, and specialist paediatric surgeon Anne Kolbe, of Auckland University School of Medicine, were new appointments.
The McLauchlan file
• Partner, G. S. McLauchlan and Co, chartered accountants.
• Chaired Highlanders rugby board from 2004 until late last year.
• Crown monitor, Southern District Health Board.
• Pro-chancellor, University of Otago.
• Chairman, Otago Community Hospice; director, Dunedin International Airport Ltd.
• Previously Pharmac deputy chairman.
