Non-funded cancer drugs admin costs a huge burden

Last week we heard from a woman battling cancer who had to pay 64-thousand dollars to get the treatment she needs, with around half of that cost going to adminstering the medication because our DHBs can't do it. And Mandy Grantley is far from alone. There are thought to be several hundred New Zealanders who face the double whammy of having to spend many thousands of dollars to get the drugs they need, and then face the huge expense of having them privately administered. National Party deputy-leader Dr Shane Reti is trying to rush a bill through Parliament which would see the administration of privately purchased cancer drugs being covered by the government. Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson told me last week the government won't be supporting the bill when it comes before Parliament, because it will only add to existing health inequalities. Bowel cancer patient Andrew Speir spent about 15-thousand dollars to obtain the drug Avastin and is now paying close to 2-thousand dollars a week to have it injected. He began by talking me through what has been a horrific two years.