More pressure has come on the Government over Pharmac funding as an alliance of haematologists and health groups write to the Prime Minister and health ministers, urging them to honour a pre-election promise to the 21,000 Kiwis with blood cancers. The open letter has been sent to Christopher Luxon, Dr Shane Reti, and Associate Health Minister David Seymour . It is cobacksigned by 40 haematologists (doctors specialising in blood-related disease) working at all major hospitals, and patient advocacy groups Leukaemia & Blood Cancer NZ, Myeloma NZ, and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia Advocates NZ.
“In recent days, various Ministers of the Government have given positive reassurance to the public that the Budget Day omission on cancer medicines funding will be put right and the Government will deliver on its promises with urgency,” states the letter, shared before its publication today with the Herald. “We thank you for that commitment. However, in the media furore surrounding these announcements, a re-commitment from the Government to ensure equitable progress in medicines access for blood cancer patients, alongside solid tumour patients, was unfortunately forgotten.
“We ask that you honour your pre-election commitment to all cancer patients across New Zealand – specifically including blood cancer patients – so that they are not left behind.” The open letter comes after the Government last week failed to confirm funding for new cancer drugs, as part of Budget 2024. In t.
