Ian, a Tauranga resident, has advanced prostate cancer that is no longer responding to his treatment on a funded prescription drug.
“It’s been one shock after another,” says Ian.
“My first shock came when I was told that I had cancer, and it was incurable. The second was how, even after a round of chemo, the cancer had returned. And one final surprise, when I realised that the medication my oncologist and I thought would be best wouldn’t be funded by Pharmac.”
Ian is now having to source Darolutamide at a cost of just under $8,500 per month. Darolutamide is one of a number of newer generation drugs available to men in Australia on a funded basis, but not to men in New Zealand, that have been proven to have a significant impact on both quality and length of life outcomes for those living with prostate cancer.
Prostate Cancer Foundation New Zealand says we're close to losing a generation of men.
A report commissioned by Medicines NZ has highlighted the dire reality for many men living with prostate cancer. Tthe lack of lifesaving medications places New Zealand last out of 20 comparable OECD countries in access to modern medical innovations.
Prostate Cancer Foundation New Zealand CEO Peter Dickens says the findings should act as a big wakeup call.
“Despite being the most diagnosed cancer in Aotearoa and the second leading cause of cancer-related death in men, critical prostate cancer treatments continue to languish in the funding queue which has a brutal economic and health toll for New Zealand.
“We're at risk of losing a generation of men to prostate cancer.”
Peter says the report underscores what they've been saying for many years.
"Pharmac’s lack of funding and protracted approval processes has created an environment where proven and recommended next generation prostate cancer medicines remain inaccessible to Kiwis.
"In New Zealand, those diagnosed with prostate cancer are forced to choose between finding money for treatment or facing unnecessary suffering and ultimately an early death.”
The report reveals a staggering gap when compared with other OECD nations like Australia and Canada who regularly update their list of funded medications to include recent pharmaceutical breakthroughs.
Of the 441 available modern medicines launched in the OECD from 2011 to 2020, Pharmac has only funded 34.
According to Pharmac's website, there are 109 applications on its Options for Investment List as of April 2023. Even though these medications have been deemed cost-effective by Pharmac and have undergone clinical assessments, they remain unfunded.
Tauranga resident, Ian, has advanced prostate cancer that is no longer responding to his treatment on a funded prescription drug. New Zealand is ranked last out of 20 comparable OECD countries for access to medicine. Photo: Supplied.
Ian says if he was living in Australia, access to that same medicine would cost him $40 a month.
“There is an inequity here and New Zealand men are at a huge disadvantage.
“I just don’t understand why Pharmac spends time evaluating these drugs, when Australia have already done their own tests and approved them.
“There are other prostate cancer medications Pharmac has said should be funded because they’re effective and will make a considerable difference, but they’ve been sitting on the Options for Investment list with no updates for years now.
“These medicines could change everything for me. If they were funded, it wouldn’t have to come at a huge financial burden for me to have more time with my family.”
According to Peter there are two courses of action that will change these outcomes and mean the difference between life and death for New Zealand men with prostate cancer.
The first is better and more equitable access to testing and early detection of the disease. The second is faster funding approval and access to medicines proven to extend men’s lives, prevent disease progression and provide better quality of life.
“Funding medicines we know will improve quality of life and stop men dying prematurely is critical. It would mean thousands of our fathers, brothers and friends being able to live a full life and not die unnecessarily early.”
Prostate Cancer Foundation New Zealand is the leading men’s cancer charity which aims to significantly reduce and ultimately end suffering and death from prostate cancer, by providing support and education, funding research, and advocating to reduce the impacts of the disease.
Prostate cancer is the most diagnosed cancer in New Zealand and the second leading cause of cancer related death in men.
- 1 in 8 Kiwi men will develop prostate cancer at some stage in their lifetime.
- 4,000 Kiwi men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year.
- There are currently 42,000 men living with this disease in New Zealand.
During Blue September sets out to raise more than $1 million of much needed funds, with proceeds going towards essential wrap-around support services the charity provides for men and their whānau living with prostate cancer.
2 comments
Ridiculous
Posted on 04-10-2023 13:41 | By oceans
Prostate cancer is just as bigger issue as Breast Cancer. So why doesn't pharmac fund it.
Just Checked Mine
Posted on 04-10-2023 13:45 | By Paul W2
At the age of 77 I had my annual checkup today and the Prostrate check was fine both blood test and physical test. Important to get checked every year.
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