PCPA Media Release – Tuesday 19 September 2023

/in /by

“Do the training, even if your values do not align”, PCPA experts explore the moral minefield of Voluntary Assisted Dying

Australia’s pioneer experts in Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) have called on all cancer specialists and GPs to undertake training for this controversial and legalised end-of-life decision by patients, even if it doesn’t align with their respective values or views.

PCPA Victorian Director and board member, Dr Cam McLaren, led an emotive and powerful podcast with colleagues, PCPA member and genetic oncologist, Dr Hilda High and Ms Laurie Draper from the Victorian Voluntary Assisted Dying Care Navigator Service, to help colleagues and patients navigate the complex and challenging medical and moral mine field of VAD.

Download a copy of this media release in PDF.

PCPA in the news – Oncologist face PBS drug dilemma

/in /by

pharma in focus 28 Aug- 1 Sept 2023

 

Posted 28 August 2023

Offering innovative but costly therapies is a major dilemma faced by Australian oncologists with a new survey finding they fear putting their patients under financial stress.

The survey, conducted by Servier Laboratories, aimed to unpack the barriers to cancer clinicians offering new therapies that are not available on the PBS to their patients.

While pharmaceutical companies often step in with a level of discount, known as co-pay programs, it still means considerable out of pocket costs for the patient. Only 10 per cent of the respondents said that they felt ‘comfortable’ raising the subject.

Private Cancer Physicians of Australia (PCPA) members, including radiologists, medical oncologists, and haematologist specialists were among respondents.

Click here to read the full article