Few years ago one of my close friends got a rare cancer and was given a few months to live, however there was a drug available, unfunded, which he and his family could pay $6000 a month for. You can imagine the distress within the family but they did scrimp and scratch around and paid for 3 months until miraculously, Pharmac started to fund it. The relief and joy in the family and amongst his friends was as you might imagine. His health improved to the point where he lived his normal life for another 4 years before the drug lost it's efficacy. Now some might say "4 years!? What's the big deal?" But that was 4 years of watching his beloved grandchildren grow, beautiful time with his own children, continuing love with his wife and great times with friends.
I weep inside for this banking on the fictional 13 drugs who could also have the benefits my friend did and for maybe (probably?) even longer.
Nicola Willis and her Government are a sad disgrace to our country and deserve all the attacks on them they are receiving.
One has to wonder at just what power over the Government these wealthy donors really have. Because to break a promise over cancer drugs, just to satisfy the financial demands of already wealthy people... Is something rotten in the state of Aotearoa?
All those generous donations to the party wouldn’t have been true altruism, I imagine some of them would have wanted something in return; at least that’s what it’s stating to look like.
Excellent article. I shook my head all through that interview. I would also like to acknowledge Deb Manning who was a worthy recipient in the KB Honours. She started Kiwi Harvest, initially called Food Share and has made a difference to a lot of families rescuing food destined for landfill.
Excellent commentary Nick. Not one of the talking heads actually acknowledges the lying and hypocrisy, that’s not the issue for them, they will promise to do something to repair the next poll results. How many more sleeps Nicola?
Great summary Nick👍 I did watch the full interview (sick bag at the ready🤮) It was a train wreck for her but it could have been so much worse if Jack hadn’t held back🤷🏽♀️ One question i have about all the promises of funding cancer drugs - i read somewhere that Govt Ministers can’t tell Pharmac what to spend their funding on they can only increase the funding, Willis even admitted that the list of what Pharmac can fund is secret so how then can promises like this even be made by Poitical parties?🤔
Hi Rob, they covered that, discussing that National under John Key specifically funded Herceptin. Nicola Willis was working for him at the time and was well aware that although politicians shouldn't interfere in what should be clinically based decisions there was certainly precedent.
Yes I did hear that👍 And Jack did question why she can’t do that now which she fudged around regulatory process etc🙄 I think the point i was trying to make was before the election promises were made that would have needed special attention due to Pharmacs independence but were not questioned by anyone including from any political party🤷🏽♀️
Considering one of Nacts ministers are/were involved in Pharmac somehow, maybe they had insider info? You know conflict of interest if you're on the Left but completely OK if part of this lot...
Most corrupt government I’ve experienced in my mere 60yrs on this planet😜 But as I understand it to fund specific drugs takes legislative change or something like that - John Key did it for a specific drug (can’t remember the name🤷🏽♀️) and Tame asked Willis why they don’t just do that again if they were true to their word - she fudged around that🙄 But surely it should have been called out before the election that you can’t promise something you don’t have Ministerial control over😳😬
Of course a promise is a promise and should be honoured. For me though I was always bothered by the number named and not out of superstition. Cancers are complex and different and the ways to 'fight' it are complex as well. I wonder about drug 14 which might arrive or has arrived and has great efficacy for different cancers. Who will decide and based on what criteria? I think we need to better understand the whole ecosystem of what works and why and why certain choices are made. The enormous costs come from these being new and the cost of research. It should never have been an election bribe of vulnerable people who are desperate for an affordable solution to their life and death issue right now.
So true and is also why Pharmac should be funded adequately and remain independent from Government providing a prescribed list. Let the experts decide not the Government.
This is so raw and heartbreaking. At my cancer support group, hearing how those fighting to beat this illness are faced with life and death decisions because they have had to sell up or mortgage to fund treatment is tragic. I'm sure we all would have supported increased funding of cancer drugs over meagre (if at all) tax cuts or landlord tax breaks. This govt is heartless 😕
She’s an absolute FAILURE. Get her out!!!!! Even Jack did more research and homework on our country’s finance. She has no skills useful to this country and obviously failed secondary school mathematics and English. Big F from me. If she had a shred of “integrity “ she would just disappear
You can't be to hard on her afterall Jack doesn't have kids he needs to get into their matching outfits ready watch their Dad on telly instead of going to school or to take to the movies with his big tax cut ...
What I have found: You can edit your own comments on a pc. Click on the three dots to the right of the comment and edit & delete show up. click edit. On my phone I've not found a way to edit. The three dots let me delete. that's what I know.
Thanks Nick for yet another good efficient revelatory rundown on the pernicious Labour-blaming excuses of yet another Coalition Minister, who is blatantly thereby trying to hide their incompetence.
Jeez I too stopped watching before the half way point! Heartless nasty, kept swirling around my mind. Willis, true to form, demonstrating that National will look after their own and the rest of us can go shove it. Apart from Luxon and Willis' out and out lying re average tax cuts pre election, which amazingly enough stupid dreamers were convinced by to elect these liars, Willis makes it clear that $2.9 billion given to landlords(sic) is a priority fiscal imperative over funding cancer drugs for dying patients. Videos like that by Tame on Q&A should be required viewing for every person before the next election. Only if one can view it in its entirety and STILL believe that National and Willis represents the best interests of the majority of the electorates, will a vote for a right wing block be allowed.
Good one Nick. I also meant to say, great post on Te Tiriti yesterday. Cancer is one of those awful things that affect most whanau, mine included. I hate this lottery the CoC think they can play when promising new cancer drugs (then breaking them). I remember the pink coffins on the forecourt of parliament when Jackie Blue was leading a campaign to fund Herceptin. I just felt heartbreak. There are a million stories about drugs that people need, or want. Pharmac is a particular model, that no other country in the world has. Key to it is politicians not being able to dictate which drugs they should purchase. They can increase funding, of course, but our system and Law means Pharmac makes decisions based on clinical decisions, such as Medsafe and WHO, within the funding they have, which includes funding for many other drugs. I never, ever, ever want Nicola Willis or David Seymour, or Christopher Luxon or Winston decided how that should be spent. Imagine where that could go?
I remember when I was growing up in Sydney, the very corrupt NSW police force was billed as "the best that money could buy". Many heads at all levels rolled as a result of investigation. It now seems that our Coalition of Cunning Conivance are committed to being "the best Government money could buy". The complete disrespect for the people who need support for their illness, living in their own homes, or otherwise financially stressed, for the sake of tax cuts which help very few, is an awful indictment on our country's credibility as a nation which became famous across the world for the kindness it showed during some terrible times over the last few years. We can only hope that this government will find the will to look after its citizens before the wallets that brought them to power or the "rolling" that our PM was so proud of includes the heads of all complicit in this on going disgrace. Sadly, I won't hold my breath.
Echoing what someone wrote in comments the other day, "difficult to press like" on this one. I like, Nick, that you can even begin to listen to all the sickening verbiage coming out of government ministers' mouths to cover up their absolute failure to serve their country. I hate what I read about.
Few years ago one of my close friends got a rare cancer and was given a few months to live, however there was a drug available, unfunded, which he and his family could pay $6000 a month for. You can imagine the distress within the family but they did scrimp and scratch around and paid for 3 months until miraculously, Pharmac started to fund it. The relief and joy in the family and amongst his friends was as you might imagine. His health improved to the point where he lived his normal life for another 4 years before the drug lost it's efficacy. Now some might say "4 years!? What's the big deal?" But that was 4 years of watching his beloved grandchildren grow, beautiful time with his own children, continuing love with his wife and great times with friends.
I weep inside for this banking on the fictional 13 drugs who could also have the benefits my friend did and for maybe (probably?) even longer.
Nicola Willis and her Government are a sad disgrace to our country and deserve all the attacks on them they are receiving.
One has to wonder at just what power over the Government these wealthy donors really have. Because to break a promise over cancer drugs, just to satisfy the financial demands of already wealthy people... Is something rotten in the state of Aotearoa?
All those generous donations to the party wouldn’t have been true altruism, I imagine some of them would have wanted something in return; at least that’s what it’s stating to look like.
You're right...but also, your comment made me think- imagine if they had made those donations to The Cancer Society or Starship. Pipe dream.
Once again Nick, your comment was spot on, let us hope that people are beginning to see these arseholes for what they truly are.....
Excellent article. I shook my head all through that interview. I would also like to acknowledge Deb Manning who was a worthy recipient in the KB Honours. She started Kiwi Harvest, initially called Food Share and has made a difference to a lot of families rescuing food destined for landfill.
Excellent commentary Nick. Not one of the talking heads actually acknowledges the lying and hypocrisy, that’s not the issue for them, they will promise to do something to repair the next poll results. How many more sleeps Nicola?
Great summary Nick👍 I did watch the full interview (sick bag at the ready🤮) It was a train wreck for her but it could have been so much worse if Jack hadn’t held back🤷🏽♀️ One question i have about all the promises of funding cancer drugs - i read somewhere that Govt Ministers can’t tell Pharmac what to spend their funding on they can only increase the funding, Willis even admitted that the list of what Pharmac can fund is secret so how then can promises like this even be made by Poitical parties?🤔
Hi Rob, they covered that, discussing that National under John Key specifically funded Herceptin. Nicola Willis was working for him at the time and was well aware that although politicians shouldn't interfere in what should be clinically based decisions there was certainly precedent.
Yes I did hear that👍 And Jack did question why she can’t do that now which she fudged around regulatory process etc🙄 I think the point i was trying to make was before the election promises were made that would have needed special attention due to Pharmacs independence but were not questioned by anyone including from any political party🤷🏽♀️
Oh absolutely, they shouldn't have been promising to bypass Pharmac in the first place.
Considering one of Nacts ministers are/were involved in Pharmac somehow, maybe they had insider info? You know conflict of interest if you're on the Left but completely OK if part of this lot...
An extra clause in the fast-track legislation?
Yeah maybe🤷🏽♀️ But even Chippy said Ministers can’t influence what drugs are funded as it opens Pharmac up to corruption😏
And these clowns don’t do corruption?
Most corrupt government I’ve experienced in my mere 60yrs on this planet😜 But as I understand it to fund specific drugs takes legislative change or something like that - John Key did it for a specific drug (can’t remember the name🤷🏽♀️) and Tame asked Willis why they don’t just do that again if they were true to their word - she fudged around that🙄 But surely it should have been called out before the election that you can’t promise something you don’t have Ministerial control over😳😬
So why didn't the MSM point this out before the election I wonder.
Yes why indeed🤔 Actually I don’t think anyone called it out😏
Of course a promise is a promise and should be honoured. For me though I was always bothered by the number named and not out of superstition. Cancers are complex and different and the ways to 'fight' it are complex as well. I wonder about drug 14 which might arrive or has arrived and has great efficacy for different cancers. Who will decide and based on what criteria? I think we need to better understand the whole ecosystem of what works and why and why certain choices are made. The enormous costs come from these being new and the cost of research. It should never have been an election bribe of vulnerable people who are desperate for an affordable solution to their life and death issue right now.
Well said😊👍
So true and is also why Pharmac should be funded adequately and remain independent from Government providing a prescribed list. Let the experts decide not the Government.
This is so raw and heartbreaking. At my cancer support group, hearing how those fighting to beat this illness are faced with life and death decisions because they have had to sell up or mortgage to fund treatment is tragic. I'm sure we all would have supported increased funding of cancer drugs over meagre (if at all) tax cuts or landlord tax breaks. This govt is heartless 😕
She’s an absolute FAILURE. Get her out!!!!! Even Jack did more research and homework on our country’s finance. She has no skills useful to this country and obviously failed secondary school mathematics and English. Big F from me. If she had a shred of “integrity “ she would just disappear
You can't be to hard on her afterall Jack doesn't have kids he needs to get into their matching outfits ready watch their Dad on telly instead of going to school or to take to the movies with his big tax cut ...
You're 100% right of course!
Ok that grammar fail is triggering me ...
'You can't be too hard on her....'
Is there any way you can edit your posts? 😆
What I have found: You can edit your own comments on a pc. Click on the three dots to the right of the comment and edit & delete show up. click edit. On my phone I've not found a way to edit. The three dots let me delete. that's what I know.
Cheers for that Heather. Being on my phone 99% of the time I'll just have to proof read better before hitting 'post' lol
Thanks Nick for yet another good efficient revelatory rundown on the pernicious Labour-blaming excuses of yet another Coalition Minister, who is blatantly thereby trying to hide their incompetence.
Jeez I too stopped watching before the half way point! Heartless nasty, kept swirling around my mind. Willis, true to form, demonstrating that National will look after their own and the rest of us can go shove it. Apart from Luxon and Willis' out and out lying re average tax cuts pre election, which amazingly enough stupid dreamers were convinced by to elect these liars, Willis makes it clear that $2.9 billion given to landlords(sic) is a priority fiscal imperative over funding cancer drugs for dying patients. Videos like that by Tame on Q&A should be required viewing for every person before the next election. Only if one can view it in its entirety and STILL believe that National and Willis represents the best interests of the majority of the electorates, will a vote for a right wing block be allowed.
Yep, 2.9 billion to landlords, but a paltry 280 million cannot be found
Good one Nick. I also meant to say, great post on Te Tiriti yesterday. Cancer is one of those awful things that affect most whanau, mine included. I hate this lottery the CoC think they can play when promising new cancer drugs (then breaking them). I remember the pink coffins on the forecourt of parliament when Jackie Blue was leading a campaign to fund Herceptin. I just felt heartbreak. There are a million stories about drugs that people need, or want. Pharmac is a particular model, that no other country in the world has. Key to it is politicians not being able to dictate which drugs they should purchase. They can increase funding, of course, but our system and Law means Pharmac makes decisions based on clinical decisions, such as Medsafe and WHO, within the funding they have, which includes funding for many other drugs. I never, ever, ever want Nicola Willis or David Seymour, or Christopher Luxon or Winston decided how that should be spent. Imagine where that could go?
Nick you tell it like it is! May you long be granted the strength and freedom to continue!!
I remember when I was growing up in Sydney, the very corrupt NSW police force was billed as "the best that money could buy". Many heads at all levels rolled as a result of investigation. It now seems that our Coalition of Cunning Conivance are committed to being "the best Government money could buy". The complete disrespect for the people who need support for their illness, living in their own homes, or otherwise financially stressed, for the sake of tax cuts which help very few, is an awful indictment on our country's credibility as a nation which became famous across the world for the kindness it showed during some terrible times over the last few years. We can only hope that this government will find the will to look after its citizens before the wallets that brought them to power or the "rolling" that our PM was so proud of includes the heads of all complicit in this on going disgrace. Sadly, I won't hold my breath.
Thank you Nick for watching and reporting the on going disaster that this COC represents.
Echoing what someone wrote in comments the other day, "difficult to press like" on this one. I like, Nick, that you can even begin to listen to all the sickening verbiage coming out of government ministers' mouths to cover up their absolute failure to serve their country. I hate what I read about.