29 Jul 2019

National unveils cancer agency plan if elected

From Morning Report, 7:23 am on 29 July 2019

National has put the Health Minister on the back foot, unveiling a plan to combat cancer weeks before the government is set to announce its own strategy.

National leader Simon Bridges used the party's annual conference to launch the policy, promising to set up an independent cancer agency and a dedicated fund for cancer treatments.

Not only does it borrow from Labour's pre-election promises, it puts pressure on the government to follow through or look like it's breaking its word.

RNZ deputy political editor Craig McCulloch was at the conference in Christchurch.