Blood cancer patients, advocates, and doctors are expressing disappointment over the lack of new funding for medicines in the recent Budget, which they believe will prolong “denied access and patient harm” for four more years.
Last year’s Budget received significant criticism for failing to deliver promised funding for additional cancer drugs. Following public outcry, the government later announced an extra $604 million for Pharmac over a four-year period.
Despite the government’s recent celebration of last year’s funding boost, Leukaemia and Blood Cancer New Zealand, the Blood Cancer Alliance, and the Cancer Society argue that the allocated money from last year leaves no room for new treatments.
In a joint statement, they are urging the government to address Pharmac’s backlog of unfunded medicines.
Tim Edmonds, Chief Executive of Leukaemia and Blood Cancer New Zealand, highlighted that only a small fraction of blood cancer patients benefited from last year’s funding increase, emphasizing the urgent need for improved access to cancer medicines.
Concerns raised by over 50 haematologists in a letter to the government in March emphasized the critical need for funding clinically proven medicines to prevent avoidable deaths due to delays.
Rodger Tiedemann, a consultant haematologist, criticized New Zealand’s low ranking in the OECD for access to modern medicines, questioning why the government continues to overlook the needs of individuals with blood cancer.
With approximately 2800 people diagnosed with blood cancer in New Zealand annually, Cancer Society CEO Nicola Coom emphasized the necessity of funding blood cancer medicines as the primary treatment option for this group.
Rob Crozier, a CLL patient, expressed disappointment over the lack of funding for treatments, highlighting the financial burden faced by patients like himself who rely on unfunded drugs.
He highlighted the disparities in treatment options between blood cancer and solid tumors, emphasizing the critical need for accessible medicines for all patients.
The ongoing struggle for adequate funding for blood cancer medicines underscores the urgent need for improved access and support for patients in New Zealand.
