Herceptin Support from Parliament’s Health Select Committee

The Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition (BCAC) is delighted that parliament’s Health Select Committee (HSC) supports the full funding of the breast cancer drug Herceptin for women with early stage HER2+ disease.

The HSC recommendation follows the presentation to Parliament in March of the Anne Hayden Herceptin Petition which contained over 18,000 signatures. Ms Hayden and BCAC representatives, supported by medical professionals, made submissions and a presentation to the HSC in April, calling for the government to fully fund the breast cancer drug immediately for early stage HER2+ breast cancer.

‘The decision shows the Health Select Committee understands the importance of Herceptin and the survival benefits the drug can offer to these women - we congratulate the committee on its positive recommendation,’ said BCAC Chair Libby Burgess.

BCAC has learned that the UK equivalent to PHARMAC, the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), published draft guidelines for the use of Herceptin in early stage HER2+ breast cancer only two weeks after the drug was licensed by regulatory authorities. The draft recommends the drug as clinically effective as well as cost-effective for women with early stage HER2+ breast cancer except where there are concerns about the patient’s cardiac function. A final NICE guidance is expected in July.

‘We hope that PHARMAC will give the same urgent priority to finalising their decision,’ said Ms Burgess, ‘and come out with a similar recommendation in the very near future. While we wait for funding, women must continue to mortgage their homes and fundraise for Herceptin, or live with a greater risk that their cancer will advance.’