Give cancer patients a fair deal

Published on Wednesday 13 December 2006 01:36

TODAY, we report new research from the Macmillan cancer charity which reveals that a third of cancer sufferers who have children are finding it difficult to keep up with their mortgage payments, while every year an alarming 15,000 people in such circumstances are being forced to give up their homes. One reason for this enforced homelessness is that sufferers cannot maintain their mortgage payments while paying for the prescription drugs required for their treatment.

The Scotsman has been campaigning for free NHS prescriptions for all those suffering from chronic diseases such as cancer. Patients in many categories of illness are already exempt, but the rules governing such exemptions are random and unfair. For instance, there is no reason why babies and pensioners get free prescriptions but those dying from various forms of cancer do not. Indeed, there is evidence in Scotland that large numbers of outpatients do not collect their prescriptions because they cannot afford to do so.

The Executive is engaged in a consultation over this issue, but there can be few people who believe there is much to consult over. Last week, the Chancellor gave Scotland an extra 300 million in discretionary spending money - more than enough to provide cancer patients with free prescriptions and thus keep a roof over their heads.