29317 (2025). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health

29317 (2025). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health: Why was $16.194 million in underspent cancer delivery funding returned in 2024/25, and what barriers to implementation were encountered?

Hon Simeon Brown: I am advised that the return of $16.194 million in underspent cancer delivery funding in 2024/25 was not due to barriers to implementation being encountered. I am further advised that it was due to the funding allocation being set prior to any information being available about the nature of the specific medicines that were to be funded, the exact timing of their funding, the uptake characteristics, and the activity required to provide them to patients. As the Member will be aware, our Government is focused on ensuring better access to more cancer medicines, better cancer management driven by our faster cancer treatment target, and earlier detection of cancers through screening programmes.