|
Cancer care for the few is not fair The report that the NSW Health Minister, Craig Knowles, is to support private health insurance cover for outpatient radiotherapy for cancer patients ("Knowles wants insurance to cover outpatient chemotherapy", Herald, November 29) is deeply disturbing. Thirty per cent of that cover comes from taxpayers because of the private health insurance rebate. The treatment will be for privately insured patients only. Meanwhile, radiotherapy services for public patients remain inadequate. The argument will be that it will "take the load off the public system". We have heard that before with respect to public hospital waiting lists. It won't work. Current radiotherapy services for both public and private patients are inadequate.
This move may help private patients be treated better, while public patients get nothing. Mr Knowles is
paving the way for a two-tiered health system. |
[
Doctors Reform Society of Australia home page]
|