What will political parties deliver for New Zealanders in need of medicines?

As parties roll out their election policies, thousands of New Zealanders are watching for commitments that could change their lives. The cost of living is hard. But for those forced to find the money for medicines the public system does not fund, it goes further: it becomes the literal cost of staying alive and living well.

New Zealand has the poorest publicly funded access to modern medicines among comparable countries. In the last decade, just 5% of modern medicines launched worldwide have been publicly funded here. The average among OECD peer nations was 33%.

That’s why, Breast Cancer Foundation NZ joined 16 other patient organisations launched the Forbidden Pharmacy, a campaign highlighting New Zealand’s medicines access gap.

The campaign has two clear asks:

• Fund the medicines New Zealand needs and Pharmac are recommending.
• Set a long-term plan so New Zealand stops falling behind comparable countries.

Following an open letter signed by more than 12,000 people calling for these commitments, the campaign asked political parties to set out how they would improve medicines access.

It asked seven political parties the same three questions about medicines funding. Of the parties that responded, three specify how medicines funding would increase and when: ACT, National and Te Pāti Māori. The Green Party and Labour support increased medicines funding but do not specify an amount or implementation timeframe. The Opportunity Party proposes an increase in overall health funding, without a separate allocation for medicines. NZ First did not respond.

The parties’ written responses to the campaign’s asks are listed on the Forbidden Pharmacy website www.forbiddenpharmacy.org/party-responses

Medicines featured in the NZ Herald leaders’ debate on 14 October. Christopher Luxon and Chris Hipkins agreed to meet within the first 100 days after the election to discuss long-term approaches to major national issues. Both agreed to include medicines funding in those discussions, sealing the commitment with a handshake.

Judith, who shared her story as part of the Forbidden Pharmacy campaign, is hoping policy changes can give her more options and time with her whānau.

"I’m hoping that the campaign will allow those who have the decision-making powers to pause to consider the huge financial and personal costs that the lack of funding cause for so many people in New Zealand.”

"There’s this sort of weird cancer paradox ... spending the money to stay alive and then not having the money to live. I'm running out of choices, but politicians can make the choice to help people like me"

For more information, visit www.forbiddenpharmacy.org/party-responses