Christopher Luxon: Prime Minister on Pharmac receiving $604m in funding for new cancer drugs

The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's praising himself for finally getting there with the cancer drug funding.

The Government's committing $604 million to Pharmac, taken from next year's Budget.

It will cover the funding for 54 new medicines, including up to seven of 13 drugs the Government promised last year.

The cancer medicines funded would treat cancer of the lung, liver, skin, bowel, kidney, head and neck, and bladder. The Government has also promised some of the drugs would combat breast and blood cancers.

The 28 non-cancer-related drugs would address a range of conditions likely to include infections, respiratory conditions, osteoporosis, sexual health, dermatology, inflammatory conditions, and mental health.

The spend was double what National proposed in 2023.

Luxon told Mike Hosking that he's proud of the investment and ultimately for delivering more than promised initially.

He says it's different from what was proposed but he's more interested in the outcomes, and he's now surpassed them.

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