Thousands 'can't afford cancer treatment'

[grace]

The New South Wales Cancer Council says as many as 5,000 people across the state are missing out on proper treatment each year, mainly because they cannot afford it.

 

The council's chief executive, Andrew Penman, says it has begun compiling a database of patient complaints in a bid to lobby the State Government for better services.

 

"We've heard stories of women who have decided to have a mastectomy rather than spend a lot of time away from home attending radiotherapy," he said.

 

"We've also had stories of people being charged very large gap fees because the only service available to them in their area is a private radiotherapy service."

 

Mr Penman is calling for $170 million more in capital expenditure to provide more doctor training and at least 20 more radiotherapy units by 2013.

 

"We have recommended to Government in this current Budget round that they substantially increase expenditure on radiotherapy, with the objective of increasing the number of machines by around 50 per cent in the next five years," he said.

 

Date: 3 Mar 2009

Source: ABC

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/03/03/2506206.htm