69586 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health

Written Question

Published date: 07 Nov 2024

Metadata

Document type:	Written Question
Parliament number:	54
Question number:	69586 (2024)
Question asked:	23 Oct 2024
Member asking:	Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall
Portfolio:	Minister of Health
Minister replying:	Hon Dr Shane Reti
Answer received:	03 Nov 2024
Status:	Question Answered
Reply type:	Reply
Document ID:	WQ_69586_2024
Document guid:	ea171593-ad52-426d-9271-c0d2d4032d99

69586 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health: What progress, if any, has been made in the quarter July to September 2024 to achieve the expectation ‘Improve the availability of and access to cancer medicines in New Zealand’ under the objective ‘1.5 Faster access to medicines and pharmaceuticals’ within the Government Policy Statement on Health 2024–2027?

Hon Dr Shane Reti: On 24 June 2024, the Government announced an additional $604 million funding boost for Pharmac to purchase new medicines, including multiple cancer medicines. The Government also announced an initial $38 million in 2024/25 for Health NZ to support them to deliver the additional cancer treatments. From 1 July, Pharmac: • approved funding for 23 medicines, including 11 cancer medicines • is in the process of considering feedback on a further 15 medicines, including 9 cancer medicines; and • has consultation open for another medicine.