The future of National's promise around 13 cancer drugs is set to become clearer.  

The Government's due to make a Pharmac funding announcement – which could bump up its medicines budget by 40%. 

Pharmacy Minister David Seymour told Heather du Plessis-Allan Pharmac could be instructed to fund specific drugs, another entity could be set up (like the previous government did for Covid vaccines), or more money could be allocated to Pharmac - protecting its independence. 

Seymour said “Pharmac at any given time has its options for investment lists” 

He said “I wouldn’t be able to ask them – the whole point is that they’re at arm's length from politicians and they’re independent.” 

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