In his latest blog for Caerphilly Observer, Conservative South Wales East AM, Mohammad Asghar, expresses his concern over survival rates for cancer patients in Wales.
I am greatly concerned that the latest data shows cancer patients in England still have a better survival rate than their equivalents in Wales for the majority of cancer types.
Hampering survival rates here in Wales are severe shortcomings within cancer waiting times, a lack of fair access to modern and potentially life-saving cancer drugs, and a public health strategy that needs to be better funded and far more rigorous and inventive in bringing home to the public the messages and consequences we face if we do not help ourselves as much as possible.
Wales is home to some of the world’s leading cancer researchers and are already leading the way on a number of cancer-halting drug developments, so it is vital that our citizens are able to benefit from this.
Any strategy to improve outcomes for patients should comprise closer integration of cutting-edge research with NHS services, a public health strategy which tackles cancer’s causes, and a readily accessible cancer drugs fund.