Group Delighted At National Policy On Herceptin
10 November 2008
For immediate release
The New
Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation
Delighted at National
Party policy on Herceptin Funding
The New Zealand
Breast Cancer Foundation is delighted with the decision of
Prime Minister elect, John Key to extend funding of a full
12 month course of Herceptin for women with early stage HER2
positive breast cancer.
The newly-designated Minister of
Health, Tony Ryall has said that the national government
will make Herceptin available outside the PHARMAC process,
making money available through the Ministry of Heath to get
a 12 month course funded.
Dr Belinda Scott, breast
surgeon and Chair of The New Zealand Breast Cancer
Foundation’s Medical Advisory Committee, says that the new
government’s aim to have the extended Herceptin funding in
place before Christmas is to be applauded.
“The bulk of scientific data overwhelmingly supports a 12 month course of Herceptin for those breast cancers for which it is effective. This is fantastic news for women with early stage HER2 positive breast cancer, their families and the New Zealand community,” she says.
The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation will continue to support and review all new data on Herceptin and other drug treatments as the information becomes available.
ends