The head of the newly-formed Cancer Control Agency says it will have a strong focus on reducing the risk of cancer.

The government has announced the national cancer agency - and $60 million for Pharmac to put towards funding new drugs.

Interim Cancer Control Agency director Dr Diana Sarfati told Mike Hosking the agency will be in operation by the first of December.

"Because we've got an ageing and a growing population, the number of people projected to get cancer is actually going up."

She says people have been calling for a coordinated, planned approach for cancer.

"Being in the Ministry means we are closely aligned with other services that are also in the Ministry that are we very important to cancer, so things like surgery, diagnostics and primary care are so central to cancer care, and they are also in the ministry."