The Irish Cancer Society welcomes news this week that hospital in-patient charges have been abolished.

The Irish Cancer Society has welcomed the abolition of hospital in-patient charges which comes into effect from today.

Director of Advocacy, Rachel Morrogh, said: “The Irish Cancer Society has long campaigned for the abolition of hospital charges and we are delighted that from today, cancer patients will no longer be charged the daily €80 fee, which went up to a max of €800 a year, to receive life-saving treatment in a public hospital. In-patient charges did not just apply to people staying overnight in a hospital, but included the use of day services, such as chemotherapy. We extend our thanks to Minister Stephen Donnelly, who with his Government colleagues, responded to our plea on behalf of cancer patients and in doing so, initiated a change that goes some way to reducing the cost of the disease for families across the country.

“It is really significant that future cancer patients will not have to face this cost and will never have to face the worry and anxiety that the €800 per year burden put on people. As well as the charge being abolished, debt collectors will no longer be used to chase payment. The Irish Cancer Society carried out a survey amongst patients to understand the impact of the inpatient charge and debt collectors on them and we found that as well as causing financial hardship, they caused increased levels of stress and anxiety and we don’t believe that anyone should have to face those unnecessary challenges on top of a cancer diagnosis.

“The Irish Cancer Society is continuing to campaign for reduced costs for families facing a cancer diagnosis, such as reduction in the cost of car parking, lower insurance premiums for cancer survivors and an automatic entitlement to a medical card.”