May 04, 2021
Kids’ cancer drug policy change a death sentence
Patient Voice Aotearoa says a change in Pharmac policy on funding cancer drugs could be a death sentence for some children.
The drug buying agency is considering removing a provision which gives hospitals blanket approval to provide oncology drugs or children.
It's in response to a court challenge that the same loophole should apply to children with spinal muscular atrophy.
Patient Voice spokesperson Malcolm Mulholland says the Minister of Health needs to intervene before irreversible harm is done.
"The kids will not be able to get access to these drugs. For some kids it will be a death sentence," he says.
He renewed his call for a Royal Commission of Inquiry into Pharmac.
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