Pharmac funding boost: Finance Minister says policy announcement coming very shortly [Video]

Sign-off for a huge Government funding boost for Pharmac – which would allow for greater access to potential life-changing drugs for cancer patients – could come as soon as Monday.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis has confirmed she would announce a policy “very shortly”, but woudn’t confirm the exact timing.

Willis was speaking to Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking this morning, following reporting by The Post that an announcement of a $600 million boost for drug funding is imminent.

That money could allow National to keep its pre-election promise to fund life-saving cancer treatments, while also giving Pharmac more money for other drugs.

Willis told Hosking no announcement would be made today.

But she did not deny, when asked, that an announcement about drug funding would be made next week following Cabinet sign-off on Monday.

“We’ve been working very hard on this policy and we’re going to make an announcement very shortly,” she told Hosking.

She did not specify whether …