April 2, 2025

Ucan Ireland Launches to Improve Cancer Care Access

Community Resource Consultants Inc. (CRCI)

Community Resource Consultants Inc. (CRCI) is a Michigan-based organization specializing in trauma rehabilitation medical case management. With over 34 years of experience, CRCI is dedicated to empowering survivors of catastrophic auto accidents to regain control of their lives and achieve both physical and emotional well-being. Their team of Licensed Master Social Workers (LMSWs) and Registered Nurses (RNs) are experts in navigating the complexities of today’s healthcare system, ensuring that survivors receive the necessary services for their recovery and rehabilitation. CRCI’s core values include advocacy, people, knowledge, and dependability, reflecting their commitment to being leading advocates and facilitators of long-term collaborative care.

News Summary

A newly formed patient advocacy group, Ucan Ireland, is dedicated to enhancing access to essential cancer medications for patients. Co-chaired by cancer survivors, the organization aims to address critical issues surrounding medication reimbursement and access delays in Ireland. Ucan Ireland advocates for timely access to life-saving treatments and seeks to represent cancer patients more effectively, shining a light on the urgent need for reforms in the health system.

New Patient Advocacy Group Ucan Ireland Steps Up for Cancer Care

There’s a new group in town! Ucan Ireland, a freshly formed patient advocacy organization, is hitting the ground running with one mission: to improve access to essential cancer medications for patients in need. This ambitious group is co-chaired by two individuals with personal experiences that drive their passion for change.

Miriam Staunton, one of the co-chairs, received a stage 3 melanoma diagnosis back in 2018 and has been on a mission ever since. Her experience with the struggles around accessing cutting-edge treatments has fueled her determination to lead this organization, uniting cancer advocates from all walks of life and representing various cancer types.

The Issue at Hand

According to Staunton, the most pressing issue that cancer patients face today is none other than access to medications, which has only gotten worse in recent years. Unfortunately, reports from international organizations like the OECD reveal that when it comes to approving new cancer drugs, the country is lagging behind many other parts of Western Europe. In an embarrassing comparison, Denmark managed to approve 36 cancer medicines in just over four months, while the home country only got around to 14 in an average of 600 days!

Moreover, reports showcase that Ireland ranks a troubling 21st out of 25 nations when it comes to access to high clinical benefit medications—a staggering statistic revealing that less than 40% of these important treatments are available to patients.

A Comparative Approach

In many European countries, early access schemes are available, allowing patients to get needed medications while the price negotiations are still being hashed out. Contrast this with Ireland, where such schemes don’t exist, leaving patients waiting longer for the life-saving treatments they desperately need.

The health system, known as HSE, allocates over 13% of its budget to medications, but this allocation often falls flat with constant overages and inefficiencies. The financial burden has become especially troubling for patients like James Hastings, Ucan Ireland’s other co-chair, who was diagnosed with stage 4 cholangiocarcinoma in June 2023.

Hastings faced distressing challenges in accessing vital immunotherapy drugs within the country’s reimbursement system. He even had to raise €300,000 locally to obtain treatment in London after being denied access to what should have been available under Irish regulations.

Advocacy and Hope

The founders of Ucan Ireland argue that the current reimbursement system for medications not only fails patients but also falls short of European standards, placing the lives of many in jeopardy. Hastings poignantly shared that time is of the essence for those battling cancer, emphasizing the need for timely access to treatments that can be life-saving.

Staunton knows all too well the agony of waiting for available treatments until reaching a terminal stage of the disease, underscoring a sobering reality that all cancer patients might face regardless of their diagnosis. Tragically, lives are being lost because the medications simply aren’t accessed swiftly enough.

While Ucan Ireland has welcomed the government’s commitment to reviewing drug reimbursement processes, the group has expressed concerns over the lack of specific timelines—essentially asking, “When will real change come?”

The Voice of Cancer Patients

Rallying behind those who have shared similar experiences, Ucan Ireland comprises advocates actively engaged in various cancer types and stages. They have submitted a letter to lawmakers advocating for a speedy approach to accessing life-saving medications.

With strong leadership and passion, Ucan Ireland stands out as a beacon of hope for many, emphasizing their independence by not accepting funding from pharmaceutical companies. This ensures that their advocacy work prioritizes patients’ needs without any outside influences.

As they continue their advocacy journey, Ucan Ireland is setting the stage for vital conversations around improving cancer care and ensuring that every patient has access to the medications they need—because when it comes to cancer, every moment counts!