Harney signs deal to improve cancer facilities

HEALTH Minister Mary Harney yesterday signed an all-Ireland agreement designed to improve North/South cooperation in the fight against cancer.

Health ministers from both sides of the border met in Belfast to agree new measures to improve cancer research, care and treatment.

Minister Harney said the Government is fully committed to developing North/South co-operation.

She said: “Together we have achieved real benefits for patients in developing a clinical trial network to facilitate early access to innovative therapies, a telesynergy network of communication, and a professional education and training programme to improve prevention, research and treatment.”

Programmes involve sharing medical information, and aim to detect cancer early.

The Consortium was established in 1999 to enhance infrastructure for cancer research and cancer care across Ireland.

The governments are working with the NCI, a world leader in cancer care, to help patients to access innovative treatment and undergo clinical trials.

Dr John Neiderhuber, director of the NCI, said the venture was a model for international co-operation among the public health and scientific communities.

Sinn Féin health spokesperson, John O’Dowd, welcomed the agreement.

“Operating two separate healthcare systems on this island has led to inefficiencies of scale, needless duplication of some services, and difficulties in access to services particularly for people living in rural border areas,” he said.

Radiation and oncology services are to be provided in Belfast, Dublin, Cork and Galway only, he told.

“All-Ireland configuration could not only justify an oncology unit for the entire North West, serving both West Ulster and North Connacht and ignoring the border, it could also allow access to the Belfast unit for all those living closest to it,” he said.

However, Dr Jerry Crowley, a member of the Donegal Cancer Action Group said he welcomes the initiative but feels that a dedicated service in Donegal would make more sense.

He said a unit in Letterkenny would cut travel costs for patients in the North West, and would improve their chance of survival.