The government's independent review of drug funding agency Pharmac will achieve little if the purse strings aren't opened.
That's the view of medical advocates who have long described New Zealand's approach as out-dated, and who believe lives will be saved if game-changing drugs are made available.
Breast Cancer Foundation chief executive Evangelia Henderson says the government's rapid acquisition of the Covid-19 vaccine shows what can happen if overseas evidence is quickly accepted.
She spoke to Susie Ferguson.