There was a very interesting item on TV1's Sunday programme recently re breast cancer and the drug palbociclib, specifically the brand Ibrance.

Of particular interest to me is why it costs so much in NZ that only the very wealthy can afford it, yet in the USA it can be had for as little as $10 a month if eligible.

Our powers that be say ‘We have to do more research on it before we can approve/fund it.' The rebarbative use of such a comment is infuriating. Why does NZ's drug approval squad Medsafe have to do research – don't they know about the internet? Have they not heard of the telephone which is a gadget one can use to call other people all round the world and ask questions? During such a phone call to any research group one could ask ‘what research have you carried out on palbociclib?' or, for God's sake, ask someone to show them how to use a computer and Google ‘research and testing on palbociclib'.

A Bourne, Bethlehem.