Most of us know someone affected or killed by cancer. Which is what makes the issue of treatment personal to all of us:
Cancer – the cost of a life: ‘I don’t believe people should have to beg for their lives’
The number of New Zealanders with cancer is rising steadily – as is the number of desperate patients who have resorted to asking strangers to help pay for expensive treatments that could save their lives.
This year, more than 20,000 people will have a cancer diagnosis registered, and about 9000 will die. For some, the cost of treatment that could increase their chance of survival can run into hundreds of thousands of dollars and is simply unaffordable.
The number of people turning to crowd-funding sites like Givealittle is increasing. This year alone, more than 650 appeals have been started by patients, or their friends and family, who have nowhere else to turn to when seeking non-taxpayer-funded medicines or other support. …
When people are turning in these numbers to crowd-funding for treatment something is seriously, seriously wrong. (The TPPA, which is going to increase costs to Pharmac, isn’t going to help matters any either.) What is the government going to do?
This is the first of a 5 part series on cancer in The Herald. More good investigative journalism, on top of Kirsty Johnston’s excellent 3 parter on education last week. Bravo!
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