In our NewsDay issue yesterday, we ran a story urging the authorities to exercise caution in their efforts to introduce a cancer levy to help treat patients affected by the disease as it is a sensitive subject.
NewsDay Editorial
According to Cancer Association of Zimbabwe knowledge manager Lovemore Makurirofa, there is need for policymakers to deliberate extensively on the matter before crafting the policy.
Makurirofa said: “The issue of a cancer levy is quite controversial, but it is up to the policymakers to deliberate on that. But we believe that there should be a better way of mobilising funds because by so doing (introducing a cancer levy), government will be shifting the burden to the taxpayer.”
The call came at a time when former Deputy Prime Minister and MDC-T lawmaker Thokozani Khupe urged government to introduce a cancer levy to help in research and treatment so as to cut down on the number of people succumbing to various types of cancer in the country.
It is true that all these calls to introduce a levy for cancer are noble as families and survivors have struggled to get financing for their loved ones.
Cancer is a costly illness. It can take a toll on one’s health, their emotions, their time, their relationships — and their wallet. There will be unforeseen and unexpected charges and even the best health insurance won’t cover all costs associated with cancer treatment. These costs can add up quickly and affect a cancer patient or their family’s ability to pay for other things they need.
In some cases, the cost is so high a person decides to stop cancer treatment early, or not get it at all.
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But the bigger problem is that skipping treatment can worsen health outcomes. Hence it is important to craft a health trust fund into which resources will be pooled to help fight this illness. The problem with this illness is that the costs start right from diagnosis and many people cannot pay for that and coping with the disease is also expensive. So it is not so much about having a cancer levy, but mobilising resources.
Given that cancer is now killing more people than HIV and Aids-related illnesses, it is important that lawmakers must advocate for a sustainable solution in the management of cancer.
It is, however, encouraging, noting that in recent years there has been great efforts to bring cancer into focus. Even though the country has not achieved a lot, the fact that cancer is now being discussed at a national forum like Parliament is a plus on its own and the citizens can be sure that given the resources, cancer testing can be done for free in the not-distant future.
The country, however, requires more organisations to diversify and focus on cancer as many operating in the country are focusing on HIV and Aids-related illnesses at the expense of cancer patients yet the number of people succumbing to cancer in the country has been significantly rising over the past few years.
The Ministry of Health and Child Care and the United Nations Population Fund statistics showed that at least 1 800 women in Zimbabwe were diagnosed with cervical cancer every year, with 1 200 succumbing to the disease.
Government should explore ways of boosting cancer management and treatment in schools, clinics and hospitals.
In fact, cancer testing should be made mandatory as much as health insurance to protect everybody.
