21 May 2021

Budget 2021: Pharmac campaigners disappointed

From Morning Report, 6:41 am on 21 May 2021

Campaigners say people with rare illnesses have been put on the "losers list" and left to die because Pharmac hasn't been funded enough.

The government has boosted spending for its drug buying agency by 200 million dollars over the next four years.

That's less than half of what it would cost Pharmac to buy all of the drugs on its investment waiting list.

Fiona Tolich represents children with the rare Spinal Muscular Atrophy or SMA and marched on parliament for better Pharmac funding last week.

Health correspondent Rowan Quinn asked her for her reaction.

Health Minister Andrew Little says the group is using extremist rhetoric and the government has consistently increased funding for Pharmac.