The Cancer Society of New Zealand / Te Kāhui Matepukupuku o Aotearoa is disappointed by the lack of extra funding for cancer drugs in the Government's Budget announced Thursday.
Finance Minister Nicola Willis revealed on Thursday that National has broken its election promise of funding 13 cancer drugs on Pharmac's wishlist this Budget.
Cancer Society chief executive Dr Rachael Hart said there is serious concern about several things missing from today's announcements.
"Our hearts go out to those living with cancer and their whānau who had their hopes raised by National's election promise last August to fund 13 cancer drugs, only to see them crushed today," she said.
"Today's announcement means that many will continue to struggle to afford the medicines they desperately need."
Newshub asked Willis on Thursday if cancer patients who will no longer get their expensive drugs funded will be happy with their $25 weekly tax cut.
"We are really committed to expanding access to cancer treatments, and we regret that it hasn't been possible in this Budget," Willis replied.
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti, however, hasn't ruled out a funding boost in future budgets.
"We have prioritised this essential investment and anticipate that future Budgets will help widen medicine access, including to cancer treatments," he said.
But Dr Hart said that may be "too late".
"People who need the drugs now may not have that year to wait."
"While we appreciate the Government has made a verbal commitment to improving Pharmac, it's important to recognise that without additional funding, these efforts can only go so far," she said.
"Enhancing Pharmac without additional funding is dead-end."
The Government announced $5.72 billion over four years will be poured into the Ministry of Health, to fund frontline services.
Free breast screening will be extended for women under 74 years old as well, but free prescriptions will be removed to be redistributed into frontline services.
Dr Hart said the Cancer Society welcomes investments in the workforce and agrees Aotearoa needs more homegrown doctors.
"But we have acute shortages now and can't afford to wait for training," she added.
The investment in breast cancer screening is also a positive, Dr Hart said, but its rollout is "slower than we had understood it to be".
In addition, information on cervical screening for underserved groups was lacking, she said.
"We want more information about what will happen to that programme when the current funding ends in June."
There were also no Budget announcements on becoming a Smokefree Aotearoa.
"When this Government repealed the Smokefree legislation it promised more investment in helping people quit. However, we see no evidence of that commitment in the current budget. Is this another promise that has been forgotten?"
And these broken budget promises are likely to be an ongoing headache for the Government.
