Cancer drugs a National party ‘problem’: Seymour tells Select Committee

Wednesday, 19 June 2024

David Seymour, Associate Health Minister, is now referring to National’s election promise to fund cancer drugs as a ‘problem’ in scrutiny week.

The minister responsible for Pharmac, David Seymour, has gone as far as labelling the National party promise to fund a list of 13 cancer medicines a “problem” in a grilling before Health Select Committee.

The policy has been something of a thorn in the Government’s side since Budget day, when no money was allocated to the drugs, despite a promise on the campaign trail to buy them this year.

Seymour, also ACT Party leader, reminded the committee during scrutiny week on Wednesday the policy was not his when Labour’s Dr Ayesha Verrall asked how the Government planned to “solve its problem on its commitment to fund cancer medicines”.

“The Government per se does not have that commitment. The Government has a commitment to one of its partners, in this case the National Party, to fulfil a coalition commitment,” Seymour said.

As Verrall did, Seymour repeatedly referred to the policy as a problem.

“I believe it is possible to solve the problem, but it’s important we take the time to have a proper discussion about how we solve the problem so we can do it as effectively, efficiently and rapidly for the benefit of patients and for the taxpayer, who will still have to put up the money.”

Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall grilled Health Minister Shane Reti, during Parliament's Scrutiny Week, about the Government's promise to deliver new cancer medications.

In the same room on Tuesday, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti revealed a Budget bid was written on the policy but wasn’t “quite ready” in time for May 30 due to a list of challenges, including finding funding.

Seymour hinted at tensions behind closed doors in getting the policy over the line when asked, again by Verrall, if Pharmac’s bargaining power would be compromised when a politician named drugs the Government intended to purchase.

“Not if it’s a politician,” Seymour said.

“The minister responsible, which is me, is wholly committed to the neutrality of Pharmac’s decision-making… we don’t want Pharmac to be playing poker with their cards on the table.”

Seymour is on record supporting Pharmac’s independent model, and as post-Budget commentary talked of the potential need to break this model to source the drugs, he began referring to the policy as “National’s promise“.

“We are working diligently, as our Government does for all its partners in coalition, to find a way forward to ensure those promises are realised for the New Zealand patients. How it happens is currently a subject of discussion within the Government.” he told Verrall.

Verrall questioned whether this suggested the actual list of 13 drugs may change, to which Seymour replied: “As of right now, the Government has not made policy decisions about that matter.”

Seymour reminded the committee of the intent of the policy: “It’s important we remember why we’re doing this, it’s for patients,” he said.