The Irish Cancer Society is seeking extra funding of €20 million in Budget 2024 to secure better survival rates and quality of life for people with cancer.
Chief executive Averil Power told Newstalk Breakfast that even before Covid Ireland was “far behind” the leading countries in terms of cancer survival and patient outcomes in general.
“Ireland has the second highest rate of cancer in the EU. That was in 2020 and our cancer death rate was also 11 percent higher than the EU average. So, even prior to Covid, we were far behind the leading countries in terms of cancer survival and patient outcomes in general.
"Our national cancer strategy sets out a roadmap to address that issue and improve cancer prevention, detection and treatment. And the price tag for that is an extra €20 million a year to make improvements each year by improving how we detect and treat cancer.
“But it has only received that funding in two years since it was published in 2017.”
The €20 million would be spent on a range of things, she said. “Improved diagnostics, expanding some of the positive initiatives that were implemented when it was properly funded.
“So for example, there were nursing posts put into all the cancer treating hospitals around the country to ensure that patients who have complications between treatments don't have to go to every department, but that's only available Monday to Friday during the day, and that's a measure that reduces anxiety for cancer patients.”
“This would also reduce pressure on the rest of the health service as cancer patients would not have to risk attending a busy ED.
“Measures like that, if delivered in cancer care will also free up capacity in a busy health service during the winter. So that's why we're saying that, we know obviously the finances are under pressure and not everything is possible. And we think it's a no brainer and incredibly shortsighted not to be funding initiatives that improve cancer survival.”
Ms Power added that a promise in the Programme for Government that cancer patients would not have to pay hospital parking charges has still not been implemented. People with cancer and their families were already coping with loss of income.
“We're urging that as part of the cost of living measures in next week's budget, that that is addressed. Now.
“We can't afford not to invest. And I think after three years of all of these strands of pressure during Covid and other health crises, cancer services are really creaking at the seams. And that's having a huge impact on patients and staff.
“We know that the number of people getting cancer is increasing year-on-year by 40 percent. So in the next ten years, if the Government doesn't make this investment now, that means people being diagnosed later with cancers that are harder to treat, and that's worse outcomes, unfortunately, for them as individuals. But it will also cost the State so much more in the long run.
“So I think this is the decent thing to do for cancer patients, their families, but also the smart economic move is to invest in cancer services.”
