New Zealanders deserve best medicines available

New Zealand women who have breast cancer need the best and most effective treatment available, Labour Health spokesperson Ruth Dyson said today.

“Breast cancer is a devastating illness and those diagnosed should be treated with dignity, respect and to the best ability of New Zealand’s experts in this field.”

“But the National government has now set a dangerous precedent by politicising drug purchasing.”

“The decision to over-rule experts, and fully fund 12 months of Herceptin, as opposed to the current fully funded 9-week course, sets a precedent that will have much wider implications than this one drug.

“New Zealanders deserve to have confidence that the drugs they receive are funded because they are the best and most effective available, not because they suit political purposes.”

ENDS

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