Pharmac is likely to end its blanket provision for childrens' cancer drugs Until now, child paediatric oncology drugs have been provided under a special exception allowing hospitals to give children with cancer any medicine their doctor asks for and Pharmac pays the bill. But an advocate for children with a rare and deadly genetic disease known as SMA took a claim of discrimination. Fiona Tolich asked why Pharmac would pay for any drug needed by a child with cancer, but wouldn't pay for a drug that can save the lives of children with SMA. But rather than moving to fund SMA drugs, Pharmac has decided to review the way it funds child cancer drugs Pharmac's chief executive Sarah Fitt told Guyon Espiner the current system is not straight-forward, and it is time to address that.
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