The subject of cancer has been rampant in the NZ media lately. Our CEO, Peter Fergusson, reflects on the wave of dissatisfaction shared by so many Kiwis living with cancer.
“The Pharmac debate has captured public and media interest over the past months. On the one hand, our statistics suggest that the currently funded access to pharmaceuticals model is failing cancer patients, on the other we are told, by Government officials, that we have a world class system that other countries wish to emulate. Yet kiwi’s keep dying unnecessarily!
Depending who you listen to, it is either akin to murder by denying access to life-changing medicines – or a badge of honour because Pharmac negotiates hard, saving us hard earned tax dollars. It’s the awkward balance between saving lives and being fiscally responsible that sits uncomfortably with many people. Like myself, they are wondering if these two things are mutually exclusive?
New Zealand is languishing 2nd to bottom within OECD countries for access to medicines…fact. Over a third of kiwi’s die of cancer each year…fact. Medicines are not the only answer…fact, but for some kiwi’s, they are a critical component to their future.
How do the best OECD countries in the world approach this? We only have to look to our colonial counterparts, the UK, for inspiration and learning. I know – tough to swallow, but we need to get over that – and learn quickly. NICE is the Pharmac equivalent agency for the UK. In this video, NICE Chief Executive Sir Andrew Dillon explains how the UK say ‘yes’ and get that balance right. I encourage you to watch this compelling interview to see for yourself the revolutionary NICE health model that exists in the UK.” Peter Fergusson
Watch NICE boss Sir Andrew Dillon sit down for his only interview while visiting NZ here.