Blood Cancer Medicines Availability Analysis

Every year approximately 2,800 people are diagnosed with blood cancer in Aotearoa New Zealand. There are currently no methods to prevent or screen for blood cancers. This means cancer medicines as the primary treatment option, along with stem cell transplants. It is important that people with cancer can access the most appropriate treatment, when and where they need it.

For several years, there have been concerns that there were more publicly funded cancer medicines available in Australia, compared to Aotearoa New Zealand. In 2022 we released Understanding the Gap: an analysis of the availability of cancer medicines in Aotearoa to compare the cancer medicines that were available both countries. The 2022 report analysed cancer medicines used to treat solid (tumour) cancers, that met a minimum threshold of clinical benefit, using an internationally recognised tool.

We were unable to include blood cancer medicines in the 2022 report as there was no validated tool to assess blood cancer medicines. When a validated tool became available in late 2023, we analysed blood medicines to inform the 2024 report - Te rere o te toto Understanding blood cancer medicines availability in Aotearoa New Zealand. This second report completes the picture of cancer medicines availability between Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.

You can read both the 2024 and 2022 reports on our webpage.

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