Two-year-old Zoey Butcher loves to dance. But in a few year's time, she won't be able to.
"One day she might not be able to stand anymore or walk. She won't be able to dance anymore. In some cases, they can struggle to write and do basic things with their hands," Chauntel Wedlake, Zoey's mum, told Newshub.
Two months ago, Zoey was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, type three.
In its most severe form, the disease will rob someone of the ability to walk, eat and eventually breathe.
"Overall, her muscles will waste and she'll lose all quality of life... it's our worst nightmare come true," her mum says.
There are treatments available - one of them is called Spinraza. It's available in more than 50 countries, but it's not funded yet, in New Zealand.
It is on Pharmac's very long wish list, known as the Options for Investment.
Pharmac's CEO says Thursday's major budget boost of 191 million dollars over two years will help fund some of them.
"Our biggest increase last year was 200 [million] over four years and now we've got 200 over two years so it's nearly doubled our biggest increase and we think we'll be able to fund quite a few medicines from that," Sarah Fitt, Pharmac's CEO, told Newshub.
The drug-buying agency has revealed a list of funding proposals it's now considering. It includes medicines for cancer, multiple sclerosis, hormone replacement and HIV.
If approved, it is expected to benefit thousands of Kiwis each year.
The President of Multiple Sclerosis New Zealand says it's welcome news.
"What it means is for people who are diagnosed with definite MS, will be able to go on drugs as soon as they're diagnosed. Up until now, they've had to wait for a second relapse before they can," Neil Woodhams told Newshub.
Newshub put the possibility of funding Spinraza with the new budget to Pharmac.
"I wouldn't want to give people false hope. It is on our list of medicines we do want to fund," Fitt said.
"There are many medicines on that list that we'd like to fund and we'll do our utmost to work our way through that list and fund as many medicines as we can."
Pharmac says it's only announced the first round of consultations on proposed treatments it would like to fund.
"There'll be a lot more to come. These were ones we could do quite quickly," Fitt said.
"Some of them might be quite small, some of them might be quite significant. This funding really enables us to really knock a good hole in our list of medicines to be funded."
Fitt says those consultations are expected to be progressed over the next 12-24 months.
But Zoey's mum says her daughter needs it now.
"She's already showing signs of weakness, which means time isn't in our favour at all.. the sooner she can get it, the sooner the results will start showing and the more chance of her regaining quality of life." Wedlake said.
"There shouldn't be a price tag on somebody's life, or somebody's quality of life. You shouldn't have to fight to get access to treatment that you need."
