NZ Herald.
Advocates of cancer patients say Pharmac is now “on notice” to deliver the 26 Government-funded cancer treatments in a timely fashion in light of the public uproar caused when the Government’s cancer policy was delayed.
The challenge comes amid widespread celebration of the Government’s promise to spend more than $642 million over four years to purchase and deliver 26 cancer treatments alongside 28 non-cancer-related medicines, estimated to help 175,000 people in the first year.
It has come after weeks of uncertainty and anguish from patients and advocacy organisations after National’s promise to fund 13 specific cancer drugs was absent from this year’s Budget.
