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Cancer Council SA welcomes additional funding for regional transport scheme
1 March 2010 Cancer Council SA (CCSA) welcomes the announcement by Liberal Leader Isobel Redmond that a Liberal Government would contribute an additional $4 million over 4 years to support people from regional areas receiving treatment for cancer and other serious illnesses. The funding would be directed to South Australia’s Patient Assistance Transport Scheme (PATS), which provides financial assistance to regional patients travelling to major centres for treatment for cancer or other illnesses. CCSA Chief Executive, Professor Brenda Wilson said a review of PATS was long overdue and this investment is welcomed. It will still however, leave country people having cancer treatment in major centres, with significant out of pocket expenses for travel and accommodation. “We are urging all political parties to consider this issue in the lead-up to the election as the current level of financial assistance, which helps to pay for travel and accommodation, is unrealistic,” she said. “Reviewing PATS, and in particular reimbursement rates for travel and accommodation, is one of 12 election priorities about which Cancer Council SA has been lobbying in the lead-up to the state election. While it is pleasing that there has been a commitment to raising the level of PATS assistance, we will continue to lobby both political parties about our 12 priorities – all of which are aimed at preventing cancer and supporting South Australians with cancer.” Professor Wilson said increasing the PATS assistance was necessary to ease the burden of a diagnosis of cancer and improve health outcomes for regional cancer patients. “Australians living in rural and regional areas have significantly worse cancer outcomes, including increased mortality. Many factors contribute to lower survival rates for regional patients including delays in diagnosis due to lack of access to appropriate tests, decisions not to have certain treatments due to costs – time away from home, travel and accommodation – and poorer access to specialist treatment,” she said. “In summary, the further away a patient lives from a major treatment centre, the poorer their chance of survival.” Currently regional cancer patients receive 16 cents per kilometre for travel and a $30 accommodation rebate per night (or $60 per night if they have a carer with them).To receive the reimbursement, patients must live more than 100 kilometres from major treatment centres, so cancer patients in areas such as Victor Harbor or the Barossa do not qualify for financial assistance. “We are asking that the travel allowance be increased to a more realistic figure and accommodation rebates be increased to $85 per room and that it is indexed annually. In addition, we believe the distance threshold should be reduced from 100 kilometres to 65 kilometres, “Professor Wilson said. “With current travel and accommodation costs, it is unacceptable for people with cancer and their carers from regional areas to receive travel reimbursement of only 16 centres per kilometre and to expect anyone to find safe, clean accommodation in Adelaide for $30 per night. The $4 million commitment by the Liberal Party will go some way towards alleviating this pressure.” The full election priorities submission is available at www.cancersa.org.au/electionpriorities  Top |
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