With the General Election now confirmed for February 26, the Irish Cancer Society (ICS) is calling on the public to help shape policy change by urging their election candidates to ‘close the cancer gap'.

The cancer gap refers to the fact that where people live in Ireland affects their chances of survival from cancer. For example, death rates in some of the poorest parts of Dublin are twice as high as death rates in more affluent areas.

"Inequalities exist at every step of the cancer journey and people from disadvantaged backgrounds have fewer GPs in their area, wait longer for vital tests for cancer and are less able to cope with the cost of cancer. This has caused a cancer gap between rich and poor," explained the ICS's head of advocacy and services, Donal Buggy.

The ICS is urging people to tell their candidates that they want to see changes in three key areas:
-Fair and equal access, including tackling waiting times for vital diagnostic tests
-Reducing the cost of cancer by ensuring that people who are diagnosed with the disease are automatically entitled to a medical card. The ICS is also called for the prescription charge to be abolished and the Drugs Payment Scheme threshold to be reduced to €85
-Action in relation to cancer policies. The ICS wants the new National Cancer Strategy to be fully implemented. It also wants to see the establishment of a Cabinet sub-committee on health inequalities.

"We can all do our part to close this gap and reduce the burden of cancer. In this election, patients, their families, and healthcare providers have an important role to play in encouraging political parties to introduce policies that will ensure a fairer health system and better outcomes for cancer patients and their families," Mr Buggy said.

Further information is available on the ICS's dedicated General Election page on its website here