April 03, 2019
Cancer drug bid lost in red tape
The health select committee has had to correct a review saying Pharmac was funding two drugs for metabolic breast cancer.
Metavivors petitioning for Ibrance and Kaytruda to be made available to them pointed out that at this stage that is only a recommendation, and no decision is expected for another couple of months.
Committee chair Louisa Wall says members got confused about Pharmac’s processes.
"So the stage that drug was at in terms of the entire process was not highlighted and we were clear the reference was that it had been recommended for funding at a medium level but what we didn't realise was that was stage one of what was for all intents and purposes a three stage process," she says.
Metavivors supporter Malcolm Mulholland says the select committee seems to be measuring Pharmac on it's success in saving money rather than what it is doing to ensure New Zealanders get the drugs they need, and that needs to change.
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