Cancer treatment access set to improve as infusion capacity expands nationwide
Monday, 13 April 2026
Hundreds more New Zealanders will receive life-saving cancer treatment each week as the Government rolls out a nationwide expansion of community infusion services.
The expansion will add 218 extra chair-days of treatment space every week, increasing capacity for a wide range of treatments, particularly cancer therapies.
Each chair is typically used by three to five patients a day, meaning the additional capacity could deliver between 34,000 and 57,000 extra infusion treatments a year.
The expansion would provide 14 new infusion centres, while a further 14 would be expanded.
Read more:
A need for increased infusion capacity followed a $604 million investment into Pharmac medicines in the 2024 Budget, including funding for 33 cancer treatments.
Health Minister Simeon Brown said the investment was life‑changing for thousands of people, but required increased infusion capacity to ensure patients could access these medicines when they needed them.
Demand for cancer infusions had increased 12% - with around 13,000 additional cancer infusions expected this financial year.
The 2024 Budget set aside $210 million to upgrade facilities, purchase equipment, and expand the workforce needed to deliver additional treatments following the Pharmac funding boost.
Brown said Health NZ was recruiting for additional staff to deliver infusion services, including senior medical officers, specialist nurses, pharmacists, and other allied health professionals.
“Our focus is on ensuring patients can access cancer treatment sooner and closer to where they live.
“That means not only funding new medicines, but making sure the health system has the capacity to deliver them.
“This expansion puts patients at the centre, enabling more New Zealanders to start treatment earlier, receive care closer to home, and spend less time travelling for appointments and more time with their families.”
Breast Cancer Foundation NZ chief executive Ah-Leen Rayner said quick access to effective treatment had a direct impact on breast cancer survival.
Rayner said there was currently too much variation in how quickly breast cancer patients could start treatment.
Only about 22% to 60% began treatment within 28 days of their diagnosis depending on where they live.
“That gap is hugely concerning and shows the need to keep addressing capacity pressures in cancer services so everyone can access timely care, no matter where in the country they are.”
She wanted to see the Government go further by expanding access to subcutaneous treatments, given as an injection under the skin rather than requiring hours on an IV drip.
“These treatments are quicker and easier for patients, and they also help ease pressure on hospital services by freeing up infusion chairs and staff time.”
New and expanded services have already been rolled out, including:
New centres in the Bay of Islands, Buller, and Waitākere
Expanded services in Whangārei, South Auckland, Taupō, Wairoa, Napier, Whanganui, Wellington, Christchurch, and Timaru
Further rollout through to 2028 will include:
New centres in Dargaville, Henderson, Greenlane, South Auckland, Te Kūiti, Hāwera, Waipukurau, Horowhenua, Golden Bay, Christchurch, and Rolleston
Expanded services in Kaitaia, North Shore, Taranaki, Kāpiti, and Ashburton