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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72.1% Yes
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24.8% No
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3.1% Other - I'll share below
Riddle me this: Neighbourly edition!
What type of cheese is made backwards?
Do you think you know the answer to our daily riddle? Don't spoil it for your neighbours! Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm.
Want to stop seeing riddles in your newsfeed?
Head here and hover on the Following button on the top right of the page (and it will show Unfollow) and then click it. If it is giving you the option to Follow, then you've successfully unfollowed the Riddles page.
Repair & Share
Free community repair café held by Repair Café Aotearoa NZ and Auckland Library of Tools!
We offer diagnosis and repair (where possible) of small electrical items, clothing and textiles, wooden items and general repair. We often have specialty repairs available.
To accommodate everyone, you will be able to see our volunteer repairers for 1 item at a time. If you have more than one item you'd like us to look at and there is enough time, you can register your second item afterwards.
Hang out, have a chat and enjoy a tea or a cup of freshly brewed coffee and a home baked treat.
Koha is welcome for refreshments and for our lovely volunteers.
Getting here:
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Bus stops on Ponsonby Rd (InnerLink, 20, 105, 106, 866), Great North Rd (11T/W, 18, 20, 195), and Karangahape Rd (WX1).
We are also near the northwestern cycleway.
Limited free parking is available next door or on side streets. There is no parking in front of ALoT/Hackland.
If you are keen to volunteer your repair skills for this event, get in touch with our coordinator at brandy.repairandshare@gmail.com.
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ourauckland.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz...
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