More medicines for Kiwis at home
A re-elected National Government will put New Zealand patients first, bringing money back from overseas to fund more medicines and expand cancer screening, National's Health spokesperson Simeon Brown says.
"National has put patients back at the heart of the health system, delivering the largest ever boost for new medicines and expanding free screening nationwide. Now we want to go further, getting more medicines to Kiwis and catching cancer early, when it is most treatable," Mr Brown says.
A re-elected National Government will:
- Deliver a further $604 million uplift in Pharmac's medicines budget
- Turn responsible fiscal management into more medicines by reducing foreign aid outside the Pacific and making MFAT more efficient
- Set a national target for clinical trials in New Zealand
- Unlock CAR-T cell therapy
"When National came into Government, Labour had left behind a funding cliff in Pharmac's budget. We filled that gap, then went further with a record $604 million investment, delivering 66 new medicines benefiting hundreds of thousands of Kiwis, including 33 new cancer treatments.
"But new treatments become available overseas every year, so National will invest a further $604 million to help Pharmac fund more new medicines and widen access to those already funded.
"We will largely pay for it by reducing foreign aid and associated administration costs by 10 per cent, while fully protecting aid to the Pacific.
"New Zealanders are generous people, and we'll continue to play our part in the world. But National believes more of New Zealanders' hard-earned money should be spent here at home, caring for Kiwis fighting cancer and other serious illnesses, rather than being sent offshore.
"Clinical trials and CAR-T also give New Zealanders access to cutting-edge treatments, often years before they would otherwise be available. For someone facing cancer or a rare disorder, that can mean real hope when other options have run out.”
A re-elected National Government will also:
- Lower the free bowel screening age to 50 by 2029
- Complete the free breast screening extension to age 74 by 2029
- Launch new screening pilots for prostate and lung cancer
- Deliver free cervical screening for all women aged 25 to 69 from March 2027
- Establish the Healthy Kiwis Programme, offering active prescriptions
"Early detection and prevention are just as important, catching cancer when it is most treatable and keeping more Kiwis well and out of hospital.
"National has already lowered the bowel screening age twice in just a year, from 60 to 58 and now to 56, moving as fast as we safely can. We will keep going until we reach 50 by 2029, with more colonoscopy capacity to match.
"For women, we are making cervical screening free for those aged 25 to 69 and finishing the job of extending free breast screening to 74.
"But there is still no organised screening programme for prostate cancer, the most common cancer in New Zealand men, or for lung cancer, our biggest cancer killer. The pilots will test the best way to screen for both, building the evidence for potential nationwide programmes.
"Beyond cancer, the Healthy Kiwis Programme will help stop chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes before they start, with a target to double the number of people receiving active prescriptions by 2030.
"Supporting families through some of the hardest moments of their lives is why National has been so focused on responsible financial management, so we can keep investing in the health services that matter most.
"This election is going to be very tight, and the choice could not be clearer. It's either a Labour coalition that would hit Kiwis with nine new taxes. Or National, who will put the health of Kiwis at home ahead of money sent overseas, delivering more medicines and earlier screening with no new taxes," Mr Brown says.
