The New Zealand Maori Council says lives are at stake as women wait for Pharmac to make breast cancer drugs more affordable

It says the drugs - Ibrance and Kadcyla - costing thousands of dollars a month, should be funded.

Executive director Matthew Tukaki is ramping up a campaign for an inquiry into the Government's drug-buying agency.

He says most families simply can't afford certain types of treatment, and Pharmac should be getting its to get its act together.