The general policy objective of this Bill is to improve the access to public medical care for cancer patients who purchase unfunded cancer medicines that also require medical administration. Many cancer medicines that are not funded by PHARMAC cannot be administered in the public system under the current legislative framework. Unfunded cancer medicines often incur the burden of not only expensive private purchase but also the cost of subsequent day stay administration of that medicine in private fee paying facilities. The cost of administering an unfunded cancer medicine can sometimes be as much as the medicine itself which in turn affects decision making. Transport to a private facility can also be many hours drive past a closer capable public hospital further increasing the overall burden.

This Bill aims to share the burden of cost between patients and the Crown where both parties contribute to overall cancer care for unfunded cancer medicines. A principled distribution of scarce health resources approach would focus on the most vulnerable first, in the same targeted manner that other health resources are distributed, towards an overall goal of complete coverage for all. This Bill aims to prevent Crown Funding Agreements being used to prohibit DHBs making their facilities available to patients who require administration of cancer medicines that are not funded by PHARMAC.