Irish survival rate for cancer among worst in EU

IRELAND has one of the worst survival rates in the European Union for cancer sufferers and should be spending far more on research, according to a leading expert in the field.

Although the country spends more than the EU average per head of population on research into the disease, which is responsible for one death in four, it is not enough, according to Professor Richard Sullivan.

“Ireland is not keeping up with the increase in its GDP (gross domestic product) in spending on cancer research,” he told a conference on cancer research funding, adding that the authorities “need to up their game”.