Posted by Michael Wonder on 31 Aug 2016
Q&A: Is NZ lagging in cancer drug funding?
31 August 2016 - Researchers have called for an urgent overhaul of New Zealand's processes for funding cancer drugs to ensure breakthrough treatments get to those who need them as soon as possible.
A new study published in the New Zealand Medical Journal outlined the clinical information on new melanoma treatments and compared the funding programmes in New Zealand, Australia, England and the United States.
Despite drug-funding agency PHARMAC now covering two drugs - Opdivo and Keytruda - the issues encountered with funding new melanoma treatments have not been addressed, the authors argued.
Cancer Society medical director Dr Christopher Jackson, who has given a public talk as part of Queenstown Research Week, spoke with Herald science reporter Jamie Morton.
