Donegal cancer
campaigners have called for an investigation into
how a number of medical companies investigated by
the US authorities were selected to provide care
including radiotherapy to patients here.
Cooperating for Cancer Care (North West) was among a
number of patient groups who held a press conference
in Dublin this week to highlight their concerns.
They outlined facts showing that the US Government
had recovered millions of dollars in total on foot
of federal investigations, from a number of
healthcare corporations operating in Ireland
including Quest Diagnostics and UPMC.
Culdaff-based Noelle Duddy of CCC(NW), who was at
the conference, said her group was "shocked" by the
findings
"We are demanding a halt to co-location and to the
outsourcing of cancer treatment and testing to these
corporations.
"We want an immediate investigation into how
companies who have made enormous settlements with
the US Government came to be selected to provide
services to Irish cancer patients. Contracting
for-profit companies to provide cancer treatment,
clearly carries additional risks for patients."
Peadar McMahon, chairman of the Health Services
Action Group (HSAG) said smaller public hospitals in
Ireland were being downgraded to facilitate private
companies with a questionable background in the US,
to turn a profit.
The Health Services Executive (HSE) said it was
currently satisfied with the status of five
companies who remain involved in the tender process
for the national co-location programme.
"We are also satisfied with the status of those
companies involved in the delivery of radiotherapy
and related cancer and screening services," said a
HSE spokesperson. |
