Labor Candidate for Summer Hill, Jo Haylen, has welcomed the announcement that a Foley Labor Government would abolish the chemotherapy co-payment for all cancer patients in NSW public hospitals.

Clr Haylen, who has been advocating for this change along with Cancer Council representative and local resident, Mark Ludbrooke, said she was glad to have helped ensure that Labor committed to removing the charge of up to $180 which chemotherapy patients currently have to pay.

“The last thing you need to be worried about after being diagnosed with cancer is checking your bank account. It is a difficult time for people and their families as it is, and as NSW residents, we should all be able to expect that our public hospital system will look after us without having to worry about money.

“I’m proud to have worked with Mark and other locals who have campaigned to end this unfair payment. It is great to see people from our area working for improvements that will benefit local residents and everyone in NSW.

“This policy will make a real difference to many families and it makes the choice between Labor and Liberal as clear as the difference between quality public hospital care for everyone, and the privatised, user-pays system favoured by the Liberals.” Clr Haylen said.

Abolishing the chemotherapy co-payment is a key plank of the Cancer Council’s Saving Life 2015 campaign.

Patients undergoing chemotherapy in some NSW public hospitals currently pay a one-off co-payment for chemotherapy drugs injected or infused via drip. Some cancer patients pay up to $180 in co-payments for their initial chemotherapy treatment, and may be charged more down the track if their treatment changes.

The announcement of this policy was made by Labor Leader Luke Foley at the Labor campaign launch on Sunday March 1. NSW residents will no longer have to pay for chemotherapy in NSW public hospitals.