The boost to Pharmac funding to purchase extra cancer and other drugs is clearly welcome, especially since the latest budget did not provide for this.
Arguably from a political perspective they had little choice given their failure in the recent budget to deliver on a pre-election promise.
Clearly much needed funding is good news for cancer patients and their whānau, as well as health professionals.
Nurses Society director David Wills says it is well recognised that the main obstacle to new drugs being funded is historic underfunding of Pharmac.
That said, how the Pharmac extra funding came about is concerning.
Politicians and political parties should never be telling Pharmac what drugs should be approved for funding.
National’s pre-election pledge to direct funding for 14 drugs was ill-considered.
That list included drugs that have since been superseded by better options, but that is not the issue.
Firstly, politicians should not be deciding what drugs should be funded, as doing so undermines the purpose of Pharmac.
Secondly, telling Pharmac what drugs to buy plainly undermines Pharmac's ability to negotiate drugs at the best price.
It places Pharmac at the mercy of pharmaceutical companies who can name their price.
It is also worrying that this extra funding is apparently to come out of next year's health funding – possibly at the expense of other services.
A further issue will be resources to deliver these drugs. This will require extra staff and services, which are already under strain from current financial constraints.
The boost to Pharmac funding to purchase extra cancer and other drugs is clearly welcome, especially since the latest budget did not provide for this.
Arguably from a political perspective they had little choice given their failure in the recent budget to deliver on a pre-election promise.
Clearly much needed funding is good news for cancer patients and their whānau, as well as health professionals.
Nurses Society director David Wills says it is well recognised that the main obstacle to new drugs being funded is historic underfunding of Pharmac.
That said, how the Pharmac extra funding came about is concerning.
Politicians and political parties should never be telling Pharmac what drugs should be approved for funding.
National’s pre-election pledge to direct funding for 14 drugs was ill-considered.
That list included drugs that have since been superseded by better options, but that is not the issue.
Firstly, politicians should not be deciding what drugs should be funded, as doing so undermines the purpose of Pharmac.
Secondly, telling Pharmac what drugs to buy plainly undermines Pharmac's ability to negotiate drugs at the best price.
It places Pharmac at the mercy of pharmaceutical companies who can name their price.
It is also worrying that this extra funding is apparently to come out of next year's health funding – possibly at the expense of other services.
A further issue will be resources to deliver these drugs. This will require extra staff and services, which are already under strain from current financial constraints.