Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, CEO of the Irish Cancer Society Averil Power said cancer patients without a medical card or private health insurance face inpatient charges of up to €800 a year for treatment such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
Where the charges are not paid within 47 days, HSE policy is that they may be pursued by a debt collection agency.
“These are patients who are very sick, who are already having to cope with the emotional and physical impact of cancer.
“To be pursued in such a frightening way by your public hospital system is incredibly unfair.”
Call for halt to collection agencies pursuing cancer patients (RTÉ)
Listen to RTÉ Radio One’s Morning Ireland item here
Pic: BBC