By Jennifer Rice, Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Health and North Coast MLA
RECEIVING A CANCER DIAGNOSIS can be extremely frightening and stressful for both patients and their loved ones. Figuring out the logistics of receiving the care you need is one of many details that can feel overwhelming and cause financial strain for people on their cancer journey, especially those living in rural and remote areas.
That’s why our government is stepping up to help support people with cancer who must travel to access cancer care with a $20 million investment in cancer care travel programs.
As Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Health, ensuring that people who live remotely have access to the health care they need is extremely important to me, and it is to our government, too.
We’re providing the Canadian Cancer Society and Hope Air with $10 million each to expand travel programs that will help British Columbians access the care they need, no matter where in the province they live.
As an MLA living in and representing rural and remote communities, I know what it’s like to have to seek medical care far from home, and I know that people in my riding in the past have chosen not to seek care because the travel would be such a burden. This investment will make a huge difference for people who live in remote communities, whether it’s places in my constituency like Haida Gwaii or the Bella Coola valley, in the Interior, in Northern B.C., or in any corner of the province.
The Canadian Cancer Society is expanding three programs that will go a long way in helping patients living in rural areas.
Expanding accessibility to the Travel Treatment Fund means many more families will receive vital financial support, and expanding programs like Wheels of Hope into areas of Vancouver Island and the Kootenays will help people sleep better at night. The Canadian Cancer Society is also eliminating patient fees at all four cancer care lodges.
These are the kinds of details that make meaningful and positive impacts on patients in our rural communities.
Hope Air will be able to offer their services to more patients and their families dealing with a cancer diagnosis and treatment. They’ll also expand the services they offer while improving on how they deliver them, to make sure we’re delivering patient care in a more understanding and caring way.
Read more of the Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Health’s statement here….
