Pharmac backtracks on plan to fund lung cancer drug Keytruda
The move has dashed hopes that Keytruda would soon be publicly funded for lung cancer - New Zealand's biggest cancer killer. RNZ has obtained documents showing Pharmac had planned to offer a Request for Proposals, or RFP, where drug companies are asked to pitch their products and prices, but has put that on hold due to budget constraints. Chief executive Sarah Fitt told RNZ that Pharmac was concerned about rising drug prices worldwide in the Covid-19 pandemic and that it could not commit to funding the drug now - but still hoped to in the future.
Lung cancer patients and their advocates are devastated and said they had been given false hope. Keytruda is available in New Zealand but patients must fund it themselves. "So what we now have is 30 lung cancer patients continuing to die prematurely every week and you have to ask yourself, is that acceptable?" Fitt said funding a drug like Keytruda for lung cancer would have cost hundreds of millions over the next five years and Pharmac could not commit to that given the Covid-19 outbreak.
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Poll: Should employees be able to work from home?
At the post-Cabinet press conference, the National Party asserted they want public sector staff to return to the office. This has opened a conversation about other sectors in New Zealand who have adopted working from home (WFH).
Where possible, do you think employees should be able to work from home? Vote below and share your thoughts in the comments.
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65.9% Yes
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31.4% No
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2.7% Other - I'll share below
Poll: How do you feel about dogs being allowed indoors in cafes?
For most of us, seeing a friendly doggo while out and about instantly brings a smile to our faces. But how do you feel about cafes welcoming pups inside?
Cast a vote and share your thoughts below.
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27.3% I love it!
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31.3% Only in designated areas
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41.3% No, it should be outdoors only.
Poll: What is the best way to pick up reserved books from Auckland Libraries?
Auckland Libraries have changed the way reserved books are picked up. Reserved books are now positioned on a shelf under a slot number which varies daily according to the day a book arrives. If you have more than one book to pick up each book can come under a different slot number. See:
www.neighbourly.co.nz...
aaamazingphoenix.wordpress.com...
Which is the best way to allocate a numeric slot number for a reserved book?
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50% Based on the last digit of a customers library card
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0% Based on randomisation (once only) of the last digit of a customers library card
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50% Based on a slot number that varies daily based on the day each book arrives
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0% I do not reserve any books so it does not matter to me how this is done!
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