Medicine supply low
THE COVID-19 global pandemic has affected the supply of medicine for local cancer patients.
This was revealed by Fiji Cancer Society West branch representative Margie Erbsleben at a Pinktober event in Nadi yesterday.
“Cancer is always there and in fact the numbers are always growing,” she said.
“We are actually meeting more cancer patients who are unable to have their medication because of the lack of flights.
“So even the medicine is very slow in coming through and the freight charges are incurred in the medicine as well so the prices are just going up.
“Meanwhile, the patients are waiting for their medications.
“Not only cancer patients, those in health centres and hospitals in general.
“We are concentrating on cancer medicine because we look after cancer patients and their wellbeing.”
She said while the struggle to care for cancer patients across the country had been enhanced by the global pandemic, they were pleased with the ongoing support from local businesses.
“We’ve actually been very surprised by the amount of support that we have received. It’s been really wonderful.
“We thought that a lot of people would shy away from this but the fact is they are available.
“A lot of people are not working and they have been available to come to our events because now they have the time.
“If this was a normal day, people would be busy at work but now they have the time to come out and sit with us and listen to what we have to share about this cause.”