Turia "Stunned" By Herceptin Decision
Tariana Turia admits she is stunned by the decision by PHARMAC and DHBNZ not to fund the drug Herceptin for women with
early breast cancer.
“There was sufficient evidence that showed women in the early stages of the disease who used Herceptin at the diagnosis
of breast cancer experienced positive effects” said Mrs Turia, Maori Party Co-leader and Health spokesperson.
“This will a huge impact on women and appears to me, to be just another excuse to deny women access to new treatment”
said Mrs Turia.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in Aotearoa. Māori women have a 47.7% higher death rate from breast
cancer than non-Māori women. Maori women with breast cancer also have poorer survival rates than non-Maori.
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