Alarming story about wait for cancer drug
Madam Editor,
The front page story in The Sligo Champion September 19) outlining where a local cancer charity fundraiser is being denied access to a life-changing cancer drug because it would take the HSE a year to provide it, is both disappointing and alarming, as time is of the essence in this particular case.
The government announced in July that it had resolved a dispute with the HSE over the necessary funding and medication, and that it would start providing Nivolumab, a drug used to treat cancer, and eight other drugs by September from the existing budget.
At this stage its a race against time, and puts undue stress and anxiety on the patient and the immediate family members.
At the end of the day this all comes down to money, which was miraculously found in tens of billions during the recent recession in order to bail out our ailing banks and very sick and stressed out bondholders, so as to pay our political masters in Europe to keep the ship of state afloat.
Are the ordinary people of this country who have been compliant tax payers all their lives, not be entitled to the same supports, when they become sick and are in desperate need of urgent medical attention.
The men and women of 1916 fought and died for Ireland so that all the people of this country would be cherished equally. It is also a line enshrined in our constitution. Is this fair and equal treatment?.
Let us hope that respect and common decency prevails in this most urgent case, and that a man who has raised much needed funding to help others on their cancer journey, can be restored back to full health as quickly as possible, where he will have much to offer his loving family, and society as a whole.