Red tape removed for cancer patients!

The Ministry of Social Development have scrapped the need for cancer patients to provide regular medical certificates in order to receive financial support while undergoing treatment.

In the past, a medical certificate was needed every four-weeks plus four-weeks then 13 weeks while receiving assistance but this has been replaced and now patients only require one for the length of their cancer treatment.

The Cancer Society and the Ministry of Social Development have been working closely together to redesign the process after some patients questioned the need to provide multiple certificates.

“It’s great the Ministry of Social Development has simplified the process for helping cancer patients”, says Cancer Society of New Zealand Manager Mike Kernaghan.

“This will go a long way to help patients who are undergoing treatment for cancer and are unable to work.

“We applaud Minister Anne Tolley, and the National Government, for making this a focus and considering the needs of cancer patients facing financial pressure during this stressful time in their lives”.

Nationally around 70 new applications for assistance are submitted to the Ministry each month from clients with a cancer diagnosis.

The changes came into effect in March and the Ministry is working with the Cancer Society to ensure health professionals know about this change and what treatment information is needed.