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New Zealand Herald article, 19 January 2019
By: Kiri Gillespie
Two Tauranga woman, each living with a terminal diagnosis, are calling for an independent inquiry into the Government agency that decides what medicines do and do not get funded, as they fight for better access to "game-changing" life-prolonging drugs in New Zealand.
Time is a precious thing for Tracy Barr-Smith and Sue Wall-Cade.
Parliament’s Health Select Committee has announced that it has “opened a briefing” on PHARMAC funding and patient access to drugs. The committee says this will allow it to gather information on the wider issue of drug funding, and decide on any further steps.
We had a fabulous opportunity to look back at everything we have achieved this year at our AGM in Auckland recently. A wonderful group of women came together from different parts of the country to share their perspectives and discuss the opportunities ahead.
Three people who are fighting to have important medicines funded for women with advanced breast cancer appeared before Parliament’s Health Select Committee hearing on 4 December to strongly put their case.
Terre Nicholson, Wiki Malton Mulholland and Malcolm Mulholland were all leaders in a march to Parliament in October, and did a magnificent job on 4 December explaining the urgent need for action. A number of Metavivors attended the hearing in support while others watched online.
It was amazing to see so many wonderful, inspiring women march to Parliament recently to present petitions calling for funding of important medicines for advanced breast cancer. The women were joined by their whānau, family, friends and supporters on 16 October, carrying banners with strong messages and sharing powerful stories.
Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition media release, 16 October 2018
Women marching to Parliament today, to present two petitions calling for Government funding of vital medicines, have 100% support from a coalition representing more than 30 breast cancer organisations.
Women with breast cancer, their family, whanau and supporters are marching to Parliament on 16 October to present petitions to MPs – calling for the funding of breakthrough advanced breast cancer medicines Ibrance and Kadcyla.
Metavivors have a tremendous opportunity to tell politicians about your experience with breast cancer and your needs.
Parliament’s Health Select Committee is asking to hear from Metavivors to help the committee consider petitions for the medicines Ibrance and Kadycla and a letter calling for a review of PHARMAC.
The petitions and letter were presented to MPs in the Metavivors march to Parliament in October, and the committee is looking at the requests.
Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition media release, 7 September 2018
New Zealand needs to stop treating people with advanced breast cancer as second class citizens, Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition (BCAC) says.
The coalition of more than 30 breast cancer-related group says a report out today by the Breast Cancer Foundation of New Zealand (BCFNZ) reveals the shockingly high mortality rates for New Zealand women compared to other comparable countries.
