Vol. 501 No. 3
53 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans, if any, he has to provide stand alone budgets for treatment of cancer patients particularly in view of the belief of some medical experts that there is a direct link between Ireland's relatively low level of expenditure on health care and cancer death rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5941/99]
Since taking office I have provided some £19.5 million to implement the provisions of the national cancer strategy. This is substantial funding, over and above the resources already being devoted to the provision of cancer services throughout the country. Among other issues, the funding is addressing regional imbalances in the availability of cancer treatment services outside Dublin.
I am very pleased with the progress made so far. Since implementation of the national cancer strategy commenced, I have provided for a total of 22 additional major consultant posts in the treatment and care of people with cancer. I have also provided funding for a range of important support staff, who have either taken up duty or are currently being recruited.
The national cancer strategy was accompanied by an action plan which indicated how the provisions of the strategy would be implemented. The funding I have provided effectively delivers on that plan. There is of course, more to be done in the area of cancer, and I will be examining the scope for further funding in the context of the Estimates for 2000. The funding I have already given under the national cancer strategy is effectively a stand-alone budget for new developments in cancer services, in the sense that it must be directed to this area and cannot be used for other purposes.
I am conscious that the cost of certain drugs used in the treatment of cancer have been rising significantly. My Department is currently examining the extent of these increased costs and I will be taking this issue into account when framing the allocations for 2000 and subsequent years.
