Northland nurse with ultra-rare hereditary cancer denied funding for life-extending drug
Juanita Bassett, a nurse from Northland diagnosed with a hereditary form of GIST, was refused funding for the drug ripretinib by Pharmac, leaving her reliant on a short-term fundraiser.
Northland nurse Juanita Bassett was diagnosed with an inherited form of gastrointestinal stromal tumour, a condition found in fewer than 100 families globally. The targeted therapy ripretinib could potentially control her disease, but Pharmac rejected her exceptional-funding application, arguing there is no proof it works better for hereditary cases. With the drug unavailable through the public system, Bassett has survived on a two-month supply secured through an online fundraiser organized by friends.
Her husband Warren warns that the limited stock leaves the family with a looming crisis, especially as their 22-year-old son carries the same gene. The refusal underscores the difficulties patients with ultra-rare cancers face in a budget-constrained health system, despite the drug being approved by Medsafe and funded in Australia.
Why it matters
The story shows how funding rules can leave patients with rare, life-threatening diseases without access to potentially life-saving medicines.
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