“I want to make memories with my kids and be there for them as they grow up. I’m determined to do everything I can to make that happen,” she says. “The funding could not only give me peace of mind but also mean more time to create those lasting memories.”
“This is amazing. Because the biggest stress since my melanoma diagnosis has been money related”
Good news for many advanced melanoma patients in New Zealand. Melanoma New Zealand welcomes today’s news from Pharmac for increased and new access to funded medicines because it’s long-awaited good news for many New Zealand patients with advanced melanoma.
Today Pharmac has released consultation on a proposal which means that from 1 June 2025 many advanced melanoma patients in New Zealand could have access to some melanoma drugs for which they were previously ineligible.
Although yesterday’s announcement of a Pharmac funding boost is a significant and positive step for medicines access in New Zealand, uncertainty and concern remain for many melanoma patients in New Zealand.
MyLifeMatters is a collective of patient advocate organisations representing more than 1 million patients with cancers, rare disorders, diabetes, and other life limiting conditions calling for the New Zealand Government to start investing in new and breakthrough medicines at the same level as other OECD countries.
Melanoma New Zealand is welcoming National’s policy announcement to fund 13 essential cancer medicines, saying it is a much-needed lifeline and will improve patient outcomes for thousands of New Zealanders.