National's Chris Luxon has promised to put $280 million into funding 13 cancer treatments over the next four years.

This funding will be ring-fenced to Pharmac to cover lung, bowel, kidney, and melanoma cancer treatments- with free prescriptions scrapped to cover costs.

Luxon says New Zealand's cancer mortality rate is 15 percent higher than Australia, and improving access to treatment can bridge the gap.

"Part of that is actually accessing those treatments and those drugs that can extend lives, but also save lives. That's what this is about."

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