A NSW Labor government would abolish a "penny-pinching co-payment" for cancer patients that would provide crucial financial relief, Dubbo Labor candidate Stephen Lawrence said.
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Mr Lawrence welcomed the announcement from Labor leader Luke Foley at the party's campaign launch at Campbelltown on Sunday.
The candidate said an above state average number of people were diagnosed with cancer and forced to travel to receive treatment. He said it was unreasonable to also hit them with a fee for their medication.
"I welcome Labor's commitment to abolish the chemotherapy co-payment. This is an important issue in Dubbo electorate. We have comparatively high cancer rates in the Central West, higher than Sydney and the state average," Mr Lawrence said.
"Our people also suffer greatly with having to travel for various cancer treatments to Orange and beyond, particularly when radiotherapy is required. The expenses incurred are huge and IPTAAS [Isolated Patients Travel and Accommodation Assistance Scheme] funding is insufficient to cover expenses."
Mr Lawrence said cancer patients in other states were not required to make a co-payment and with almost half of NSW public cancer outpatients earning incomes below $30,000 after tax, he said removing the payment was only fair.
Dubbo MP Troy Grant said Mr Foley's campaign launch showed the Labor Party would be focusing on Sydney to try and win votes there and said there was nothing for regional voters.
"Not surprisingly, there's no detail in Labor's plan for health and education in regional NSW. Labor has launched the most 'city-centric' election campaign, offering absolutely nothing for regional communities and proving once again they think NSW stands for Newcastle, Sydney and Wollongong," the deputy premier said.
"Labor has rejected our plan for a $6 billion boost for regional communities. Instead, they want to cut $4.9 billion in funding we've already allocated to projects across the state."
Mr Grant said the Coalition had already proposed to increase assistance through IPTAAS, including increases to accommodation subsidies and including claims for prosthetic services and some allied health services.
