Free Herceptin course proves popular

More than 170 women are now getting the 12-month course of breast cancer drug Herceptin following the extension of funding, Health Minister Tony Ryall says.

At the end of August, 174 women were on the 12-month course.

The course was part of the Government's "100 day action plan", Mr Ryall said.

The policy was backdated to November 19, when National was sworn into government.

Women who had paid for treatment privately between then and December 10 were reimbursed.

Government funding agency Pharmac had refused to fund more than a nine-week course.

It said scientific and other information had failed to convince it that the longer course offered any additional benefits over the nine-week treatment.

Former Health Minister David Cunliffe said he could not over rule Pharmac but the new Government, after making the change an election campaign pledge, said it was going ahead.