Prime Minister Christopher Luxon Photo: RNZ/ Nate McKinnon
On Monday, the government confirmed $604 million over four years in extra Pharmac funding to cover up to 54 new medicines, including 26 cancer drugs.
Some of the newly funded cancer drugs should be available in the next three months.
But it could be more than a year before all the newly-funded treatments are on the market, but cancer patients and advocates have told RNZ they want access as soon as possible.
University of Otago Professor of Oncology Chris Jackson said without an increase in staffing to oversee the roll-out there was the potential for huge waiting list issues in six months time. "Six months is a long time in terms of cancer treatments."
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