Patients such as Leisa Renwick who have had miraculous results with melanoma drugs will join dying patients and their families at Parliament tomorrow to petition the Government to lift Pharmac funding.

The Tauranga woman was told by Tauranga hospital last May she had only weeks to live but expensive private treatment has saved her life.

After a course of gene-therapy drugs, she is now is remission.

And now she is on a course of immuno-therapy drugs, paying $8500 every three weeks to have a dose ...

What drives premiums up?
Private health insurance continues to make a significant contribution to healthcare in New Zealand. In their report for June 2011 quarter, the Health Funds Association (HFANZ) reported that 31% of New Zealanders – 1.367 million people – still have health insurance.

And it still seems to be the case that while the Government is making an ongoing commitment to support the healthcare system, public demand continues to increase. And why shouldn't that be the case? Pe...