The Ovarian Cancer Foundation New Zealand welcomes the Government’s announcement to expand community-based cancer infusion services across Aotearoa. New and expanded services have begun in some areas, with the full roll out expected to be completed in 2028. Read the full Government announcement.
For women living with ovarian cancer, this is a positive and practical step. Treatment can involve repeated cycles of chemotherapy and other infusion-based therapies over many months, and sometimes years. Having these essential treatments available in more community settings will help reduce the strain that ongoing treatment places on women and their whānau.
For many, that means less time spent travelling, fewer disruptions to work and family life, and less physical stress at a time when energy and well-being are already under pressure. This is especially important for women in rural communities and outside major centres.
For ovarian cancer, where treatment options in New Zealand still lag behind comparable countries and recurrence is common, making funded therapies easier to access in the community is an important step forward. OCFNZ’s advocacy on medicine access has highlighted just how long women can wait for modern treatment options, with some therapies taking around a decade longer to be funded here than in Australia.
While this expansion is welcome, it must be part of a broader commitment to equitable cancer care. A key measure of success will be whether this expansion enables more women to start treatment within the Government’s 31-day cancer care target, regardless of where they live. Women’s experiences still vary too much depending on where they live, from access to infusion services through to ultrasound, imaging, and timely referral into gynaecological oncology pathways.
This announcement is an encouraging step forward, and we hope it continues to build momentum toward a more connected, timely, and equitable system for women across Aotearoa.
