The $560 million for cancer centers not enough says Cancer Council

By Dr. Ananya Mandal, MDApr 8 2010

The Federal Government has announced a $560 million for new or upgraded cancer centres across Australia this week. The Cancer Council of Australia while welcoming this gesture has said that this is not the complete solution when it comes to helping regional and rural patients of Australia. This statement was made by the CEO Ian Olver who said that this “unprecedented” amount of money can go a long way to help but more support is needed. One of the regional cancer support networks has gone further to criticize the fact that so much is doled out in patient accommodation instead of advanced cancer treatment and care services.

According to Marianne Warren, from the Cancer Services Border Network in Albury Wodonga the $1.5 million on accommodation will not save all patients from traveling. She says, "Our original submission for an integrated cancer network centre providing a range of diagnostic and treatment, more oncologists, more nurses, more care coordinators and being able to treat more cancers - it's disappointing we haven't been successful in this area…We did ask for a PET scanner and we did include accommodation, but it looks like they've looked at our submission and taken out bits of it and said we'll give you a only bit of it…. The concern that the cancer network has and myself as a consumer is that while people will come to Albury and seek accommodation and have a PET scan, where do they go once their cancer has been diagnosed? We all understand the strain on the public health service….It is disappointing from one perspective, and I don't mean to be ungrateful - it's great to have additional services in country areas, but I think the funding has fallen far short of what's needed in this area."

According to her there are other areas than just accommodation. "There's no incentive and there's no funding for being able to seek additional staff. Our oncologists in these areas are working to capacity," she said.

She said she plans to write to Nicola Roxon and approach the state government again for more help. The Border Cancer Network understands there's still a remaining $200 million to be allocated and it's expected the Minister will make announcements about that money in coming weeks.