Few areas of healthcare are as sensitive as cancer treatment.
Each year, around 44,000 cancer tumours are diagnosed here and patients may need a mix of surgery, radiotherapy and medicines.
Survival rates vary, depending on the type of cancer and how early it has been detected plus the speed of access to treatment.
This week saw claims from the organisation that represents the inventors of prescription medicines, that Ireland has the lowest availability for new cancer medicines in Western Europe.
The Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA) said that just one in four new cancer treatments licensed since 2020 is currently available here in the public…