Putting cancer patients first and closing the gap on costs
The Private Cancer Physicians of Australia (PCPA) has reinforced its support for Labor’s $2.3 Medicare Cancer Plan and welcomes being provided with more detail and assurances on how it will benefit patients by the ALP leader and his team.
The PCPA President, Dr Christopher Steer, said the peak body for private oncologists clearly welcomes the recognition of out-of-pocket costs in complex cancer care programmes as an issue that needs to be urgently addressed.
“We welcome the opportunity to have direct dialogue with Mr Shorten and his team on the details of their proposals,” Dr Steer said.
“Physicians, on the frontline of treating the sickest of Australians, are advocates for patients and are critical to the success of this and any other cancer care initiative.
“The new Medicare rebates, that are proposed for clinicians and diagnostic radiologists, will go a significant way to reduce the gaps presently causing financial pain to cancer patients and their families. We absolutely support those changes.
“There are many levels of care in the cancer journey and we will continue to advocate and support policies aimed at controlling or eliminating gaps across all of those areas,” Dr Steer said.
“We believe the work, by all sides to achieve those goals, represents a very Australian commitment to fairness for those facing difficult times.”
