CANCER Council advocates Glenn Cotter and Sue-Ellen Yates met with NSW Treasurer Andrew Constance last week to discuss the issue of chemotherapy co-payments.
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The chemotherapy co-payment is one of the five priority areas in Cancer Council’s “Vision for Change”, which outlines opportunities the NSW Government can take to reduce the number of those diagnosed with cancer and ensure those who do have cancer get the care they need.
Ms Yates said she was glad they were given the opportunity to speak with Mr Constance.
The pair met with the Treasurer to explain current financial burdens chemotherapy patients face when treated locally in the Bega Valley.
Mr Constance’s remarks earlier in the month of “all will agree that patients have enough emotional and physical anguish without the additional pressure of having to ensure their access to treatment is dependent on whether or not they can afford it” was welcomed by the pair and the Cancer Council.
Mr Constance took local concerns to the NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner and was advised of changes made by NSW Health since 2013 that aimed to address the issue of chemotherapy cost.
That these changes didn’t fix the entire problem, and complexities surrounding the chemotherapy co-payment issue, were discussed at the meeting.
“[I] thought that the meeting was very positive and that Mr Constance’s interest in the subject and wanting to understand the complexities surrounding the issue was encouraging,” Mr Cotter said.
Mr Cotter said Mr Constance was “keen to discuss the matter further with Minister Skinner and how it is affecting his constituents in the Bega electorate”.
Cancer Council has another meeting scheduled with Mr Constance at the end of October to discuss the issue further.
‘More needs to be done’
CANCER Council NSW community program coordinator Jennifer Mozina says while Department of Health changes to chemotherapy costs in 2013 have helped, more could be done to ease the financial burden on patients.
Currently, the policy is that patients pay a Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme co-payment for their first, original script only.
However, if the script changes - for instance a different dosage - it is considered a new script and the patient pays again.
Also, Ms Mozina said the policy doesn’t include premedication drugs.
“From Cancer Council’s perspective, other states have been able to ease this burden on patients, but NSW hasn’t done that in all areas,” she said.
“Our ask is that no public patient pay a chemotherapy co-payment in NSW.”
Ms Mozina said that in the recent meeting between NSW Treasurer Andrew Constance and Cancer Council advocates, Mr Constance “understood their concerns”.
She said she would like to hear from anyone with chemotherapy experiences in the last 12 months, to hear their stories and give real-life examples to Mr Constance at Cancer Council’s next meeting with him in October.
To do so, contact her at the Cancer Council Bega office on 6492 1805, or email jenniferm@nswcc.org.au.
