Drug funding welcomed
A Taranaki father-of-six whose battle with cancer saw him sell everything he owned to pay for a life-extending drug has welcomed Pharmac’s decision to start funding it.
But Karl Taylor said more still needs to be done to help others in similar situations.
Taylor was forced to live in a caravan after spending more than $32,000 on alectinib (Alecensa) to fight his terminal lung cancer.
Yesterday, Pharmac announced it would soon fund alectinib, as well as two other drugs.
‘‘I’m grateful. I’ve got no words,’’ the 55-year-old said.
The national drug agency’s announcement followed its August decision to consult on funding alectinib (Alecensa) for lung cancer, trastuzumab emtansine (Kadcyla) for breast cancer and ocrelizumab (Ocrevus) for multiple sclerosis.
Two months on, in an agreement with Roche Products New Zealand, it’s given the go ahead to all three from December 1.
Taylor, who has a rare type of lung cancer called adenocarcinoma, was spending $6497.50 a month on alectinib.
He said Pharmac’s decision was no surprise because the government had been funding him since mid-August.
It was a relief as Taylor only got $2400 a month as a beneficiary.
The grandfather said it was ‘‘great news’’ that he and more than 400 other New Zealanders would benefit from the drugs, but he still wanted to see the Government do more.
‘‘That’s only three drugs they’ve funded. I want to advocate for those other drugs that are needed.’’
Health Minister David Clark said Pharmac is currently consulting on three more cancer drugs: olaparib (Lynparza) for ovarian cancer, fulvestrant (Faslodex) for breast cancer and venetoclax (Venclexta) for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.
Taylor, a former paintsprayer and welder, was diagnosed with the stage four, rare cancer in December last year. He was given just three months to live.
But, after selling majority of his belongings and sharing his story with the Daily News, Taylor was able to afford five months of the drug.
Today, he doesn’t think the drug will cure his cancer but he still has hope.
‘‘I believe in miracles.’’
* Taylor has a Givealittle page named ‘Help for Karl’ .