Cansa highlights cancer sufferers’ human rights

‘The right to cancer care and control should be a human right accessible to all patients with cancer, regardless of geographic or economic region, to avoid unnecessary deaths and suffering.’

This was the sentiment of Cansa’s head of advocacy Zodwa Sithole who expressed concern over the lack of services for cancer sufferers in certain areas, and stressed the urgency of the situation.

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Cansa has urged the Department of Health to intervene as a matter of urgency.

‘Delay in treatment causes distress for patients as it potentially exposes them to developing complications, spreading of cancer or even death.

‘Patients must wait for months before getting a first appointment and by the time they do get one, their cancer has advanced to stage three or four.

‘Families are desperate to get their loved ones the help they need, and are tired of seeing them suffering.’

This comes on the eve of Human Rights Day, which this year coincides with the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution.

The National Cancer Strategic Framework (2017–2022) was initiated to reflect SA’s commitment to reduce the burden of cancer among all citizens.

However, many people, especially poorer patients relying on the public healthcare sector, continue to experience inequality in accessing health services.

Cansa said it receives many enquiries and complaints from people who make use of the public healthcare system, requesting assistance.

Such assistance requests include access to treatment (where life-saving equipment for radiotherapy or scanners and X-ray machines are out of order, causing delays in diagnosis and treatment, or treatment is delayed due to a shortage of drugs used for treatment); patients not getting histological report results timeously (it can take up to two months); poor communication or feedback to the patient and family regarding their illness, treatment and prognosis, and outpatients not receiving sufficient stoma bags, or education around the use of stoma bags affecting patients’ dignity and quality of life.

Further, mammograms are not available at certain public healthcare facilities owing to a shortage in qualified staff, potentially resulting in late diagnosis of breast cancer.

Cansa said a shortage of radiographers has also been noted.

At some hospitals, it can take up to five months for a man diagnosed with prostate cancer to get a first appointment.

Patients also contact Cansa when discharged from hospital with insufficient pain medication.

‘This should not be happening because palliative care is fundamental to health, and human dignity is a basic human right,’ said Cansa.

Sithole said cancer patients should be a public healthcare priority.

‘They should not be allowed to suffer because of a lack of equipment, medication or qualified staff,’ she said.