Government drug-subsidising agency Pharmac's failure to spend all of its budget in the past year has angered some breast cancer sufferers.
Pharmac released its annual report last week, highlighting a 4 per cent increase in subsidised prescriptions and the listing of 14 new drugs in its subsidy schedule.
But the report also showed the agency had underspent by $19.4 million in the 2005-2006 year.
National's associate health spokeswoman Jackie Blue yesterday said that took its total underspend over the past five year to $73 million.
Breast Cancer Aoteroa Coalition chairwoman Libby Burgess said the group, which has unsuccessfully lobbied Pharmac to provide funding for the drug Herceptin for woman with early stage breast cancer, was outraged by Pharmac's underspending.
"Almost $20 million of taxpayers' money is sitting in the bank while women are dying for a lack of drugs," she said.
"This surplus could go a long way towards funding Herceptin for women with early stage Her2 positive breast cancer."
She said the surplus undercut Pharmac's argument the estimated $30 million pricetag for funding Herceptin for early stage breast cancer was too expensive.
The drug is subsidised in New Zealand only for late stage Her2 breast cancer.
Ms Burgess said New Zealand spent only $195 per person on medicines compared with $420 in Australia.
It was time for New Zealand to catch up, she said.
Dr Blue yesterday also criticised Pharmac's surplus.
"That is $73 million worth of new medicines that could have kept Kiwis well and out of hospital.
"Compared to Australians, Kiwis are missing out on too many vital new medicines."
She said Pharmac had also accepted budget rises less than general inflation in recent years putting pressure on the quality and number of new drugs its subsidised.
Pharmac acting chief executive Matthew Brougham last week said the agency had achieved an excellent result.
It had managed spending within budget, subsidised a record number of subscriptions and introduced several new drugs.
Next year it has a budget of $600 million -- $18.1 million higher than in the past year.
- NZPA
