The Conversation.
This week the coalition government made a significant investment in Pharmac, increasing funding by NZ$604 million over the next four years.
In doing so, it delivered on a National Party election promise to fund 13 cancer drugs. Specifically, it will fund seven of those named during the election, while the remaining six will be replaced with “as good as or better alternatives”. In total, this will fund up to 54 new drugs, including 26 cancer drugs.
This announcement finally delivers hope to many cancer patients, profits to the pharmaceutical industry, and a sigh of relief for MPs who had been accused of breaking an election promise.