Cancer med plea:
Sufferer hopes review will release drugs
An independent review of Pharmac should recommend that New Zealand catch up with other countries in accessing vital life-saving drugs that are not publicly funded, a Northland cancer sufferer says.
Donna MacMillan of Kaitaia was forced to sell her beloved 1972 Valiant Charger to fund her $66,000 cancer drug Ibrance before the Government announced the drug would be publicly funded from April last year.
She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011 but entered into remission after a double mastectomy and months of radiation, chemotherapy and other drug treatment. Seven years later, cancer returned.
MacMillan and her husband worked extra jobs, fundraised, started a Givealittle page and sold assets over 11 months to pay nearly $66,000 or almost $6000 per month for her monthly dose.
That’s the cap the Government put on what women have to spend before they qualify to get it for the cost of a $5 prescription.
MacMillan had to sell her Valiant Charger for more than $40,000 and the proceeds were used to fund the majority of the $66,000 she spent on Ibrance tablets. The classic car was her retirement investment.
Ibrance will not cure her but will give her more time with her family.
“New Zealand is so far behind other countries, not just for accessing publicly-funded cancer drugs but for other illnesses as well and a lot of people have died because they simply could not afford the drug,” she said.
“I hope this review comes up with recommendations that New Zealand catches up with other countries because, for a civilised country, our medical system is far, far behind.”
According to the Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition, government spending on medicines per capita was lower in New Zealand than in most OECD countries and access to new medicines has been low and slow.
Abraxane, used to treat advanced breast cancer in people who have received other medication, has been publicly funded in Australia since 2009 but not in New Zealand.
Among other breast cancer drugs that are publicly funded across the ditch but not in New Zealand are Afinito, Tecentriq, Xgeva and Kisqali.
“All these drugs offer potential advantages in quality and length of life for New Zealanders with breast cancer and would give oncologists additional options for optimising treatment of the different subtypes of breast cancer,” Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition said.
The independent review panel will be chaired by former Consumer chief executive Sue Chetwin and include corporate governance consultant Frank McLaughlin, health and governance expert Heather Simpson, pharmacist prescriber Leanne Te Karu, preventive and social medicine professor Sue Crengle and disability advocate Dr Tristram Ingham.
The review is intended to run until year’s end, with an interim report in August and a final report in December. The budget for it is expected to be $1.5 million to $2m.
Nearly 4 million New Zealanders receive medicines procured by the drug agency.