NSW Premier Mike Baird. Photo: Christopher Pearce
NSW Premier Mike Baird has strongly indicated his government will drop chemotherapy fees charged to cancer patients if re-elected, saying a pledge by the state Opposition to scrap the payment “makes sense”.
Speaking on ABC radio on Wednesday morning, Mr Baird was asked by a listener if he planned to match a promise by Labor leader Luke Foley to ease the financial burden on cancer patients and abandon the fee for essential chemotherapy drugs.
“We have been in strong discussions with the Cancer Council about this, it is something that we are considering, I give you that assurance,” Mr Baird said, noting that patients in other states were not subject to the fee.
“Obviously we want to do everything we can to provide less pain to those undertaking chemotherapy [who are] in the battle of their lives.
“It’s a proposal that has been put forward that makes sense from the Opposition, you won’t hear that often from me, but on this one you do, and we are considering it seriously.”
The Victorian government has already dropped the co-payment.
Labor’s policy, which would cost $6.2 million, would mean cancer patients in public hospitals, and private patients in rural areas, are not charged a co-payment for chemotherapy drugs.
Opposition health spokesman Walt Secord said at the weekend the co-payment, introduced by the O’Farrell government in 2012, cost some patients $180 for initial treatment, and more if different drugs were used as treatment progressed.
As Fairfax Media reported, half of public cancer outpatients in NSW have household incomes below $30,000.