2 August 2001
In Response To The Ministry Of Health's Non-Surgical Cancer Treatment Services Report
The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation is delighted that more therapies will be available, as appropriate, for
patients with breast cancer, says Dr Vernon Harvey, medical oncologist and member of the Foundation's medical advisory
committee.
"This will greatly improve the ability of patients to access newer treatments, with the expected improvement in disease
control," he says. "We applaud the government's move, but we are uncertain how many patients will benefit because many
of these therapies have not been available through the public sector. Only time will tell what the real need is for
these therapies through the public sector, and it will be important for funding levels to keep pace with this need."
The Foundation is also pleased to see that the government is developing a process to assess new therapies as they become
available and to recommend those appropriate to be considered for funding, and that more money is being made available
for radiotherapy, in the hope that waiting lists for breast cancer patients requiring radiotherapy will be reduced.
ends