Treatment, travel and accomodation costs barriers to health access in regions

Representatives from CanAssist and the Cancer Council yesterday appeared before a state inquiry examining health access and outcomes in rural, regional and remote parts of the state.

Cancer Council chief executive Jeff Mitchell said access to cancer screening, timely diagnoses and treatment in the regions was a challenge, particularly when there were no public options available.

Mr Mitchell used Wagga as an example and said cancer patients would need to access the privately-owned Riverina Cancer Care Centre with out-of-pocket costs just short of $3000 for "a normal course of treatment".

"Whereas if you were living in the Lower North Shore you would access Royal North Shore and there would be zero out-of-pocket costs," he said.

"I just don't think any of us should be comfortable that that situation is allowed to continue."

READ MORE: Riverina cancer patients face unfair costs compared to city patients

The Cancer Council's director of cancer information and support services, Annie Miller, said the organisation was routinely contacted by people in the regions who have received a cancer diagnosis and been told to travel to the city for treatment, but decide not to follow through.

These patients cite a number of reasons, including not being able to leave their properties, the cost associated with travel and accommodation, and having families to support.

"We've had recipients who tell us directly that they would have had to sell their houses had it not been for us and they would not have been able to afford [treatment]," CanAssist relationship manager Majella Gallagher said.

All representatives agreed that a key solution to this problem was further funding and wider eligibility for travel and accommodation scheme IPTAAS.

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Ms Gallagher called for an increased IPTAAS budget, increased awareness around the scheme and a simplification of the forms process as "practical" solutions for the government to implement.

CanAssist executive director Emma Phillips said the scheme was a "centrepiece" for health outcomes, but most patients are either unaware of its existence or find the application process too overwhelming.

Ms Phillips also said it was not just people from lower socio-economic backgrounds seeking help when they get a cancer diagnosis - in the bush, people "who seem asset and cash rich" were also calling out for assistance.

Labor's Walt Secord said evidence presented before the committee about regional healthcare over the past few months had been "absolutely damning".

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