The Government has unveiled details of how it will spend $40 million of extra pharmaceutical money.
The money was promised before the election and announced in the May Budget.
Health Minister Tony Ryall told Parliament $31 million would be spent in the community and to help treat diseases such as cystic fibrosis, hepatitis B, leukaemia and auto-immune disorders.
Another $9 million would go to district health boards and the Ministry of Health for anti-cancer drugs, including herceptin.
Mr Ryall says state drug-buying agency Pharmac's total community pharmaceutical budget has reached $694 million, a 6.3% increase over last year.
