The Consumers Health Forum of Australia has welcomed the announcement of consultations on the Review to Determine Correct Subsidy for Chemotherapy Infusions.
‘We welcome this Review, which we hope will throw light on the true cost of providing chemotherapy infusions,’ said CHF CEO, Carol Bennett.
Ms Bennett said CHF would play a key role in the Review.
‘We will be consulting our members on key aspects of the Review. We will also be listening to the views of consumers in our broader networks throughout the community.’
According to Ms Bennett, CHF has consistently sought to ensure continued patient access to chemotherapy treatment, while also maintaining a commitment to ongoing transparency of payment arrangements. These goals should not be mutually exclusive.
‘Consumers must be assured of transparency in these payments, particularly in light of recent Senate Inquiry findings that providers had been using the payments from government to cross-subsidise other services. This was in spite of the fact that the Pharmacy Guild had already received $277 million in compensation through the Fifth Community Pharmacy Agreement.’
‘CHF will always argue for real transparency in government funding of health services. We are looking forward to contributing to this independent review.’