An open letter from a group of New Zealand haematologists, nurses and blood disease researchers, including many working internationally, has been released highlighting concerns about access to modern therapies for blood diseases in New Zealand.
The initiative was coordinated by the Australasian Leukaemia & Lymphoma Group (ALLG) with support from HSANZ, and has been signed by numerous clinicians, nurses and researchers, including many HSANZ members and leaders of our profession. The letter was delivered to the Prime Minister of New Zealand and senior members of government on Friday, 6 March 2026.
Ensuring equitable access to effective treatments for people with blood diseases remains an important goal shared by clinicians, researchers and patient advocates across Australia and New Zealand, and is a key priority of HSANZ.
The letter highlights the challenges faced by clinicians and patients when effective therapies widely available in comparable health systems remain difficult to access.
Read the open letter here: March 6 Open Letter to NZ Government
Members and colleagues who wish to support this message may consider sharing the letter within their professional or personal networks. Even if you are not a signatory, you can still help amplify the message by drawing attention to the issues it raises.
New Zealand citizens or residents, or those with family or personal connections in New Zealand, may also wish to write to a Member of Parliament expressing support for improving access to modern therapies and clinical trials. Attaching the open letter in the correspondence may help provide context. Information on contacting New Zealand Members of Parliament is available here.
Thank you for your ongoing commitment to improving outcomes for people with blood diseases.
Dr Adam Bryant
President
Haematology Society of Australia and New Zealand (HSANZ)
