The Associate Minister of Health is making an announcement on Pharmac funding. Video / NZ HeraldPharmac is proposing to expand access to two skin cancer medicines, which are expected to be more effective in treating melanoma and could relieve pressure on the health system. Pharmac Minister David Seymour, alongside Health Minister Simeon Brown, today announced the drug-buying entity’s proposal to allow greater access to two medicines, nivolumab and ipilimumab, from May this year for people with stage 3B to stage 4 melanoma. “This proposal would give people who meet funding criteria another immunotherapy option before surgery, while the cancer is still operable,” Seymour said. “This lowers the chance of the cancer coming back.”He referenced clinical advisers who had informed Pharmac that using the treatments together before surgery, then adjusting treatment based on how the cancer has responded could lower the chance of it returning.

Source: New Zealand Herald February 24, 2026 02:01 UTC