Pharmac Approves Five New Treatments, Opening the Door to Cancer Care in Private Clinics

New Zealanders living with cancer and other serious health conditions will soon have access to more treatment options. From 1 December 2025, Pharmac will fund five new medicines, including a major milestone for cancer patients who receive treatment in private hospitals.

Background

Pharmac, the national medicine purchasing agency, has been under strong public and political pressure to expand access to lifesaving treatments. The Government set a clear expectation earlier this year that faster and wider access to cancer medicines must be delivered.

This latest decision marks one of the most significant updates to the national pharmaceutical schedule in 2025.

What Has Been Approved

Pharmac has confirmed funding for five treatments:

New subcutaneous versions of existing IV medicines

These options are quicker to administer and reduce pressure on hospital infusion services.

• Ocrelizumab (Ocrevus SC) for multiple sclerosis
• Pertuzumab with trastuzumab (Phesgo) for HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer

Two completely new medicines

These therapies target vision loss and lung cancer.

• Faricimab (Vabysmo) for diabetic macular oedema and wet age-related macular degeneration
• Entrectinib (Rozlytrek) for ROS1-positive non-small cell lung cancer

Ongoing access for an existing treatment

• Bevacizumab (Avastin) for eye conditions

A Major Shift for Cancer Patients

One of the key updates is that Phesgo will now be available in private clinics. Until now, many patients who paid for treatment privately faced a difficult choice once the treatment became publicly funded. They had to either continue paying out of pocket or transfer to a public hospital to stay eligible for funding.

The new policy removes this stress and gives patients the ability to continue treatment without disruption.

Impact on the Health System

The new subcutaneous options are expected to:

• Save more than 7,500 hospital infusion hours in the first year
• Save 12,800 hours by year five
• Reduce pressure on nursing and oncology teams
• Deliver an estimated 11 million dollars in system savings across five years

These time savings free up staff to support other patients, which has been a major concern for hospitals facing workforce shortages.

Pharmac has also removed the previous rule that restricted faricimab to hospital clinics, which means more New Zealanders will be able to receive care closer to home.

Government Response

Associate Minister of Health David Seymour and Health Minister Simeon Brown welcomed the announcement. Both ministers highlighted the importance of faster access, patient choice, and easing pressure on the public hospital system.

The Government allocated 604 million dollars earlier this year to expand funded cancer treatments, and today’s decision reflects that commitment.

Public Reaction

Early responses from patient advocates have been positive. Many families say that easier, quicker treatment options will reduce stress and travel time. Others say that being able to continue treatment in private settings will protect patients’ routines and mental wellbeing.

However, health groups also note that more work is needed to address wait times, staff shortages, and regional inequities in cancer care.

Expert View

Health analysts say this update is an encouraging step, especially as demand for cancer services continues to rise. They note that subcutaneous cancer medicines are becoming standard in many countries because they ease bottlenecks in hospital infusion units.

Experts also say that expanding access outside hospital walls is a smart long term strategy for improving patient choice and system capacity.

Conclusion

Pharmac’s decision to fund five new treatments represents a meaningful shift in how New Zealand delivers cancer and specialist care. It brings faster treatment, more flexibility, and reduced strain on hospitals. For patients and their families, it promises more stability at a time when they need it most.