Health – New Zealand’s Blood Cancer Medicine Gap

The Cancer Control Agency’s medicine availability report, released today, has shone a spotlight on the gap in access to critical medicines to treat New Zealanders with blood cancer. The report reveals 12 medicines funded in Australia but not New Zealand that would provide substantial clinical benefit to blood cancer patients here. Six medicines that significantly improve survival and quality of life for patients are either on Pharmac’s funding waiting list or are in the assessment process.

Blood cancer patients are unique in that there are no prevention or screening options available to them. Their survival is primarily dependent on access to effective medicines and treatments, such as those detailed in this report. Blood cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related death in New Zealand, with more than 21,000 New Zealanders living with a blood cancer.

In 2023, Health Minister Shane Reti (in his previous capacity as health spokesperson) reassured blood cancer patients they would not be forgotten when it came to accessing modern medicines. At the time, when questioned on blood cancer patients, he said, ” We understand, we haven’t forgotten you… we just need that piece of work to be done by the Cancer Control Agency.” That ‘piece of work’ has today been released and the onus remains on the Government to act on its findings and ensure that blood cancer patients are not left behind.

Tim Edmonds, CEO of Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand, said: “We call on the Government to deliver on their promises to blood cancer patients, and to act swiftly to fund the six medicines that have been identified by the Cancer Control Agency and sit with Pharmac awaiting funding. If we fail to act, the Government is sending a devastating message that closing gaps in priority cancer medicines access is happening with blood cancer patients excluded.”

This gap echoes the findings of a similar 2022 report, which focused on solid tumour cancer and identified medicines that would offer significant clinical benefit to New Zealander if funded. That report triggered the pre-election promise by the National Party to fund 13 cancer medicines. Pharmac subsequently received a $604 million budget uplift to provide certainty of access for solid tumour cancer patients.