MTAA welcomes bipartisan support for radiation therapy for regional Australia

MTAA has welcomed the announcement by the Shorten Labor Opposition that, if elected, they will provide $60 million for radiotherapy treatment in regional Australia.

This follows on from the Coalition’s commitment in Tuesday’s budget to provide funding for radiotherapy treatment in rural and regional areas if re-elected.

Announced as part of the $2.3 billion Medicare Cancer Plan announced in the Budget-in-reply this week, an elected Labor government would provide 13 radiation therapy facilities in rural and regional areas.

In Australia, radiation therapy is underused in the fight against cancer. In Europe and North America, 1 in 2 cancer patients receives it as part of their treatment, here it is only 1 in 3. The medical technology industry has long campaigned for greater funding for radiotherapy in rural and regional Australia and acknowledges the work that has been done by the Radiation Therapy Advisory Group in helping to guarantee this life-changing treatment for patients in regional Australia.

Ian Burgess, Chief Executive Officer of the Medical Technology Association of Australia said:

“MTAA welcomes the ALP’s commitment to increase funding for cancer treatment, particularly the $60 million commitment to radiation therapy services for rural and regional Australia.”

“The provision of radiotherapy treatment facilities will change the lives of cancer patients in regional Australia and we look forward to its implementation.

“The MedTech industry has campaigned for a long time for this funding and it is heartening to see a commitment from both the Government and Opposition to support this life-changing treatment.”