The majority of cancer patients living in South Africa experience heavy financial strain and sometimes even bankruptcy due to the unforeseen medical costs associated with the various conditions that arise.
National Cancer Registry says a hundred thousand South Africans are diagnosed with cancer every year.
Lorraine Govender, national advocacy coordinator, Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) says if you consider the treatment associated with cancer, you cannot place a price on cancer and the cost of treatment.
Govender says oncologists who are contracted outside of medical aid rates come at a much higher cost.
Your medical aid will only cover a certain portion and the balance of that becomes the members responsibilities.
— Lorraine Govender, national advocacy coordinator, CANSA
Adding to that is the cost of the medication.
— Lorraine Govender, national advocacy coordinator, CANSA
To hear the rest of the interview, listen below:
This article first appeared on 702 : The high costs of treating cancer