NZ Expands Stem Cell Transplant Services with $27M Boost to Cut Wait Times

The Government will invest $27.1 million over three years to increase capacity, strengthen the workforce, and reduce lengthy delays that have left many patients waiting for urgent treatment.

New Zealand’s healthcare system is set for a major upgrade in its ability to deliver life‑saving stem cell transplants, following a significant expansion initiative announced by Health Minister Simeon Brown. The Government will invest $27.1 million over three years to increase capacity, strengthen the workforce, and reduce lengthy delays that have left many patients waiting for urgent treatment.

Tackling Delays for Life-Saving Procedures

Stem cell transplants—particularly allogeneic transplants, which use donor stem cells—are essential treatments for a range of conditions, including blood cancers such as leukaemia, lymphoma, and myeloma, as well as certain immune and genetic disorders. But in recent years, demand has surged beyond the health system’s capacity to deliver timely care.

Brown said it is unacceptable that patients facing life‑threatening illnesses must endure extended waits:

“Every New Zealander deserves access to timely treatment that can save their life. Too many Kiwis face distressing delays for these life‑saving procedures.”

The investment will help Health New Zealand accelerate efforts already underway to strengthen transplant services nationwide.

What the $27.1 Million Investment Will Deliver

The new funding package will enable a broad expansion across the country’s three major transplant centres—Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. Key improvements include:

1. Increased Transplant Capacity

Health New Zealand expects to increase allogeneic transplant volumes by 27–38 percent, depending on clinical complexity. This will significantly reduce the waitlists that have grown in recent years as patient demand has risen.

2. Recruitment of 79 Additional Staff

A major workforce expansion will see:

• Specialist nurses

• Haematologists

• Transplant coordinators

• Allied health professionals

• Administrative and support staff

These new roles will be distributed across the three transplant hubs to ensure consistent care and improved patient flow.

3. Expanded Inpatient Bed Capacity

Two major hospitals will see expanded physical capacity:

• Auckland City Hospital

• Wellington Regional Hospital

Additional dedicated inpatient beds are critical for stem cell transplantation, as patients undergoing these procedures require prolonged stays in highly controlled environments to prevent infection and allow close monitoring.

4. Infrastructure Upgrades in Wellington

Wellington Regional Hospital will undergo targeted infrastructure improvements to fix long‑standing physical constraints that have limited the centre’s ability to grow its transplant service.

5. A New National Digital Scheduling Tool

A first-of-its-kind digital tool will be introduced to:

• Support transplant scheduling

• Provide real-time visibility of waitlists

• Track infrastructure capacity

• Coordinate patient needs across all centres

This nation‑wide view of transplant flow is expected to improve equity, ensuring patients receive care based on urgency rather than geography. The digital system is expected to go live in the first half of 2026.

Building on Momentum from Recent Funding

This major investment follows a $6.11 million injection in 2024/25, which allowed Health New Zealand to begin immediate improvements such as early staffing increases and planning for expanded capacity.

Combined, the two rounds of funding mark one of the most significant expansions of transplant services in decades. Health officials say the upgrades will modernise New Zealand’s stem cell transplant system and help it meet future demand as cancer rates rise and treatments improve.

Transformative Impact for Patients and Families

Minister Brown says the funding will help ensure that lifesaving treatment happens on time—not months too late.

“By reducing wait times, expanding specialist capacity, and upgrading critical infrastructure, we’re ensuring that more New Zealanders receive life‑saving stem cell transplants when they need them.”

For patients battling aggressive blood cancers, timely access to transplantation can be the difference between remission and relapse. Families who have endured long periods of uncertainty will also benefit from clearer scheduling and better system coordination.

A Strengthened, Future-Focused Transplant System

With rising demand and advancements in transplant technology, the Government says it is committed to ensuring capacity keeps pace. The expansion of staff, beds, and infrastructure—combined with digital coordination—will help create a resilient system ready to meet New Zealand’s needs over the next decade.