ACT cancer patients have still been slugged a co-payment for some chemotherapy treatments despite the government earlier this year vowing to fund all drug payments.
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The government announced it was scrapping the chemotherapy co-payment - which saw some Canberra residents battling cancer charged up to $1500 a year to receive public treatment- in July this year.
But some patients who received their chemotherapy orally continued to be charged.
The issue was raised with the government in August by cancer patient Caitlin Moorhouse - who earlier campaigned for the co-payment to be scrapped - who was shocked to receive a bill for medication after the government had pledged to cover the costs.
A spokeswoman for Health Minister Meegan Fitzharris told The Canberra Times on Thursday all patients charged for chemotherapy since August 4 would be reimbursed.
Mrs Moorhouse raised the issue with Ms Fitzharris and ACT Health in August but did not receive a clear answer as to why patients were still being charged and if and when they would be reimbursed.
She then contacted Chief Minister Andrew Barr's office, who said Health was working to resolve the issue and reimburse patients who were charged co-payments after the changes.
Mrs Moorhouse said she was frustrated by the poor communication and lack of information given to her when raising the issue over a number of months.
"I see it as an equity issue. For me it's not going to make a huge difference if I have to pay these costs but for people in different situations it could mean a lot," she said.
A spokeswoman for Ms Fitzharris confirmed public ACT chemotherapy patients - whether administered orally, injectable or infusible - no longer had to pay a co-payment.
She said removing the co-payment for oral chemotherapy was more difficult due to the different ways these drugs were supplied.
"Unfortunately some patients were still being charged shortly after the government made its announcement, but we have committed to reimbursing those patients who have since received an invoice from Slade (the company that provides chemotherapy drugs)," she said.
"We are in the process of reimbursing patients, so patients can expect to get their payments very soon if they haven’t already.
"Unfortunately the pharmaceutical industry is complex, with patients who suffer a huge range of illnesses often having to pay for medications that keep them alive, or are indeed lifesaving.
"As a Labor government we are committed to making healthcare as affordable as possible for everyone, and ensuring we have an equitable system that is easy for patients to understand."
Opposition health spokeswoman Vicki Dunne accused the government of being "dishonourable".
“It is not conscionable or ethical to publicly promise cancer patients relief and then to leave them high and dry. There is no excuse," she said.
“If the government knew it couldn’t deliver free life-saving treatment, then it should never have made the promise in the first place.
“Mrs Moorhouse has been a strong and inspiring advocate for cancer patients.”
Before August 6, in the ACT, most chemotherapy treatments attracted a co-payment. This occured because the ACT government does not have a Commonwealth agreement regarding access to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme for chemotherapy drugs, as is the case in Victoria and Queensland.
Anyone who needs help to have their payments refunded should contact James Robinson on 02 5124 7135.
