Cancer patients ‘not being left behind’ Pasykaf says

Cancer patients still have access to the right treatments and care despite hiccups, Cyprus Association of Cancer Patients and Friends (Pasykaf) said on Wednesday.

An article published on Wednesday morning in Phileleftheros quoted a spokesman from the Federation of Patients’ Associations (Osak) saying that some cancer patients felt they were being left behind as a result of the focus on Covid-19 treatment.

Healthcare systems worldwide have been affected by the pandemic, and this includes Cyprus, Pasykaf Patient Support Services Director Antonis Tryfonos told the Cyprus Mail.

Following directives from the World Health Organisation, nonessential surgeries were suspended for a short while so as not to put a strain on the healthcare system, but other than causing a few delays no serious problems in terms of cancer treatment were reported, he added.

Luckily in Cyprus, oncology units and specialised cancer treatment centres, such as the Bank of Cyprus Oncology Centre and the German Oncology Centre have continued operating throughout the pandemic and have been able to cover 80 per cent of cancer patient needs, Tryfonos said.

“They have been operating according to strict health protocols, with only a few hiccups. No patient has been left behind by the system,” he added.

Tryfonos added that delays in some processes have been caused by a combination of factors. “On top of pandemic-related delays, Brexit is responsible for some drug shortages as the UK is one of our main drugs providers”.

A third problem Tryfonos identified was recent systemic changes in healthcare and pharmaceutical care.

Finally, he said that organisations like Osak anticipate problems before they grow, and through their connections with the health authorities, solutions are always found.

“It is important not to stay behind with these matters, because cancer does not wait” he said.