April 06, 2021
DHB dosing would cut cancer costs
National Party health spokesperson Shane Reti wants district health boards to be able to administer unfunded cancer drugs.
At the moment, people who opt for such treatments must pay thousands of dollars for the drugs, and then pay again for a private facility to administer them.
Dr Reti has a members bill proposing the change in the ballot.
He says it’s a situation that affects many Maori with lung cancer who want to be treated with Keytruda.
"Keytruda is not funded by Pharmac and so we have people desperately trying to bring together the $60,000 to buy the medicine in the first place and then pay the same again to administer it. That doesn't seem right," Dr Reti says.
He needs 61 MPs to vote to lift the bill out of the ballot and get it sent to the select committee.
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