A woman trying to get drugs funded for young SMA patients was horrified when Pharmac said it might end blanket funding of kids cancer medicines because she had accused it of discrimination. Now the drug-buying agency says it is likely to follow through.
These are some of the New Zealand children with SMA. Their families wanted to share their photos. Samreet and Kulture, whose photos are marked with flowers and hearts, have passed away.
Photo: RNZ/Vinay Ranchhod
Fiona Tolich checks the list in her exercise book for a second time, making sure there s a blue tick beside each child s name. Then she tallies the names out loud, her count barely audible as her eyes run down the page.