Wednesday, September 17th, 2008
by Chris
In the past, National have have no trouble bullying the press when it comes to reporting things they don’t want reported.
Like bullying the journalist who reported the “we would love to see wages drop” quote. And bullying Barry Soper, political editor of Newstalk ZB on numerous occasions (Kate Wilkinson on scrapping employer kiwisaver contributions, Bill English on borrowing for tax cuts)
They’ve now taken it a step further with muck-raker Tony Ryall telling the Auckland DHB to shut up, unless they have something negative to say about the government’s achievements regarding health. Or else there’s going to be trouble for them when he becomes Minister.
That is absolutely disgusting political interference. Threatening a non-partisan state body for distributing facts? Do people not deserve to go into this election armed with the truth about the governments achievements and it’s failings?
Tony Ryall is famous for running his mouth about the status-quo and not offering any solutions in true National Party style. So although Labour doesn’t have a spotless record on Health, how about focusing on how National will do better?
Friday, August 8th, 2008
by Chris
Yesterday, Pharmac released the decision not to fund the breast cancer treatment drug, Herceptin.
Now I can’t say I was happy with the decision, but after conducting my own research it gave me a different look at things. Obviously, I’m not over the moon that Pharmac will only fund a 9-week course of the drug but I’m convinced that the right decision was made based on safe science and evidence, instead of emotion and hysteria.
National has announced they will fund a full 12-month course, with the usual “boo Labour” spin thrown in.
Ok, that’s fine, if 12 months of Herceptin is the magic cure Dr Jackie Blue says it is, do it.
But I hope it will be done by increasing the government funding that Pharmac is allowed to play with by more than the $30 million that Herceptin will cost. Pharmac spends ~$50 million a year on all cancer drugs, New Zealand can not afford to reassign $30 million from elsewhere in the health budget.
There is a lot of mis-information and emotion tied up in this issue. Some people blame sexism as the cause:
[Former Herceptin Heroine chair Anne] Hayden said she would be interested to see what would happen in New Zealand if a wonder drug came out for prostate cancer.
Some commenters even blame Pharmac “trying to protect their huge profits”. Right.
Stuff have been covering the issue quite well, with a brief history of Herceptin, plenty of “human interest” coverage and even a look at the political side of things.
Update: If you want a laugh (or cry), KiwiBlog has a post up about it with another cheap shot at Labour (pretty sure the snails only have to be moved once)…
Some interesting comments… from rabid frothers wishing cancer on the “labour wimmin” to a quiet voice of reason from a few others.
