0 comments
0 viewsThe advocacy organisation Campaigning for Cancer is embarking on a new campaign to publicly document as many cancer patients as possible that are currently being denied access to treatment. Through highlighting individual cases, they hope to encourage policy changes in the medical sector that will benefit all of society.
Formed in 2008, a press release about their latest campaign states that Campaigning for Cancer’s mission is to “to help give South African patients and those affected by cancer a voice” and to “pioneer cancer advocacy in South Africa” lobbying for “the promotion and protection of the rights of patients and those affected by cancer with regard to policy, healthcare costs and healthcare delivery”.
The press release goes on to say that in recent years, broken radiation machines, the result of poor hospital and provincial healthcare administration, have made receiving life-saving cancer treatment impossible for many South African cancer patients. This is because suppliers of these specialised chemotherapy machines have allegedly refused to fix them due to the fact that the Gauteng Department of Health hasn’t paid outstanding supplier bills.
In the case of a patient named Anthony Naledi, who has been waiting over 4 months for treatment, Campaigning for Cancer has had to send correspondence directly to the Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi to try to get him the treatment he needs.
Although Campaigning for Cancer CEO Lauren Pretorius says that letters to the ministry usually result in the desired treatment, the organization’s Medical Director Dr. Devan Moodley reminds us that “waiting months to obtain access to treatment is entirely unconstitutional” and could be “the difference between life and death for cancer patients.”
Naledi says “we really get treated badly because of the poor service we receive as state patients. This is putting my life at risk. I want to be here to see my grand children grow up. Not pass away because of a state hospital’s poor administration. When will the MEC sit up and take notice? Once someone has died?”
With this in mind, Campaigning for Cancer is calling for everyone who is suffering similar problems to come forward and speak out. “It is obviously going to take a mass group of cases to be reported before someone in the Gauteng Department of Health takes steps to rectify this issue” says Dr Moodley.
The recent press release said that with substantial feedback from patients, Campaigning for Cancer could achieve broad enough interest and impetus to explore all the avenues that might help patients to get the treatment they need.
Patients can call the Campaigning for Cancer call centre on 0861 ASK NOW (0861 275 699) or go to their website, www.campaign4cancer.co.za, for additional information and contact details.