David Seymour Announces Increased Availability of Critical Medicines for Kiwis

“Pharmac operates independently, but it must work within the budget constraints set by the Government,” Minister Seymour said.

Associate Health Minister David Seymour, who holds responsibility for Pharmac, has announced significant progress in expanding the availability of critical medicines, thanks to the Government's largest-ever investment in the drug-buying agency. This comes as part of the government's commitment to enhancing Kiwis' access to essential treatments.

"Pharmac operates independently, but it must work within the budget constraints set by the Government," Minister Seymour said.

"When we took office, the outlook for medicine access was bleak. Pharmac faced a $1.7 billion funding gap, limiting its ability to provide new treatments. Fixing that was a top priority for this Government," he added.

To address this, the Government has allocated Pharmac a record budget of $6.294 billion over the next four years, enabling the agency to negotiate better deals and expand access to medicines. This increase is already producing results, with a focus on making new cancer treatments available.

"Today marks another significant step forward for cancer patients," said Seymour. "The Government's $604 million uplift is facilitating access to new treatments. From 1 November 2024, approximately 380 people will benefit from the full funding of Cetuximab, a treatment for certain types of advanced bowel cancer."

Cetuximab will be fully funded for patients with colorectal cancer that has spread and lacks specific genetic mutations, allowing it to be prescribed at any point during treatment. This is the latest in a series of cancer drugs recently made available.

Pharmac has also approved funding for Pembrolizumab (branded as Keytruda), a treatment for another type of bowel cancer, starting from 1 October. Additionally, the eligibility criteria for two chemotherapy medicines, Bendamustine and Pemetrexed, are being adjusted to allow more patients to benefit from these therapies.

Bendamustine, currently funded for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) and certain lymphomas, will now be available to those with relapsed or refractory CLL. Pemetrexed will also see expanded availability for broader clinical use.

"I'm pleased to see Pharmac responding to the needs of patients and families by expanding access to more medicines," said Seymour. "This decision reflects our Government's focus on a more adaptable and patient-centered health system."

Seymour emphasized that these advancements are part of the Government's long-term vision of building a world-class health system that provides access to world-class medicines, improving the lives of New Zealanders.