Irish Cancer Society warns of '€180m hole' in national cancer strategy funding
Irish Cancer Society CEO Averil Power called on the Government to stop underfunding the cancer strategy. It estimated the shortfall based on funding expectations in previous years. Picture: Andres Povida
The Irish Cancer Society has warned of a “€180m hole” in funding for the national cancer strategy, which affects many areas of patient care.
The warning follows a open letter written by 21 oncologists and researchers in April to Taoiseach Simon Harris and health minister Stephen Donnelly on the negative impact for patients of funding gaps.
Irish Cancer Society CEO Averil Power called on the Government to stop underfunding the cancer strategy. The society estimated the shortfall based on funding expectations in previous years.
“According to the HSE, the National Cancer Control Programme’s annual budget for implementation of the National Cancer Strategy should have increased incrementally over the past 8 years to be €110m higher in 2024 than in 2016,” the society said.
“The actual incremental increase has only been €65m. As a result, the cumulative loss of investment in cancer services from 2017 to 2024 is almost €180m.”
It warned this is already having a direct impact on vulnerable patients.
Among the challenges are screening programmes have not expanded as planned and target waiting times are not being met, the society said. It is also aware of cancer surgeries “frequently delayed” and warned long-term investment in infrastructure is lacking.
The Irish Cancer Society also warned “radiotherapy services are operating below capacity” and clinical trials are falling short of targets for participation.
Ms Power said one in two people in Ireland will be diagnosed with cancer.
“In the latest year for which comparable data is available, Ireland’s cancer mortality rate was the third highest in Western Europe."
She urged: "Ireland is a leader in many areas, we should not be a laggard in cancer care.”
The Irish Cancer Society today launched its pre-budget submission in Dublin.
“Budget 2025 must prioritise the National Cancer Strategy, with ringfenced new recurrent development funding for the National Cancer Control Programme of at least €20m,” she urged.
“It should also include a commitment to multiannual funding for the Strategy going forward, to enable effective planning for improvements in the coming years.”
The call is supported by the Irish Society of Medical Oncologists (ISMO) and the Irish Society of Radiation Oncologists (ISRO) in a Cancer Coalition.
Speaking for the coalition, Professor Michaela Higgins, who is also ISMO president, said, “Medical oncologists across Ireland are witnessing the human cost of this chronic under-funding.
"Our healthcare staff make every effort to provide quality care to patients with cancer but are hampered by the lack of sufficient people, capacity and resources in the system."
She added: "Unfortunately, we feel it is not possible to provide optimal care or patient outcomes in these conditions”.
Chair of the national cancer strategy Prof John Kennedy shares these fears.
“And we support the Irish Cancer Society’s call for Government to provide at least €20m in new recurrent development funding in 2025, and each year thereafter, ” he said.
The budget should also focus on ways to mitigate the cost of cancer for patients, the ICS urged, saying this is an issue for many Government departments not only Health.
It called for an end to hospital parking fees for cancer patients at every hospital.
These patients should have an automatic requirement to a medical card as well as enhanced access to the domiciliary care allowance.
The society would also like to see a statutory ‘right to be forgotten’ for cancer survivors.
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