It’s taken eight years, but Merimbula breast cancer survivor and passionate advocate for the removal of co-payments for chemotherapy drugs SueEllen Yates can finally relax.
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As of Thursday last week, October 1, the NSW government will cover the co-payments for public hospital patients receiving Section 100 Highly Specialised Drugs and Section 100 injectable and infusible chemotherapy medicines.
The announcement could mean savings of up to several hundred dollars a month for cancer patients as they go through chemotherapy.
In the lead up to the announcement, Ms Yates doggedly pursued politicians and spoke at conferences to raise awareness of the matter.
She said she was “over the moon” to know the co-payments have finally been abolished.
“I’m really happy and relieved that the government has finally taken up with the promise they made in March.
“This will make a huge difference for families and cancer patients. Now they won’t have to worry about the extra cost of the treatment when they are already struggling with a loss of income.”
Ms Yates has been campaigning alongside Cancer Council NSW for the removal of the chemotherapy co-payment for many years.
“There was only so much I could do alone,” she said.
“With the backing of the Cancer Council we were able to get the government involved and create this change. It is a huge accomplishment.”
Chemotherapy treatment previously cost a cancer patient in NSW anywhere between $200 and $300 per session.
“People don’t talk about the money when someone is fighting cancer, but they are usually out of work and still have bills to pay. Now they won’t have to find hundreds of dollars for their life-saving treatment.”
The change goes further than chemotherapy drugs, it also removes the co-payment for other highly specialised drugs.
Member for Bega Andrew Constance said tens of thousands of patients will benefit from the change.
“The removal of the co-payment will benefit patients living with cancer, as well as conditions such as HIV, hepatitis, Alzheimer's disease, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, cystic fibrosis, psoriatic and rheumatoid arthritis, severe allergic asthma and rare diseases, particularly those affecting children, including juvenile idiopathic arthritis.”