CANBERRA-BASED cancer patients will have their initial consultation at the University of Canberra's Cancer Wellness Clinic funded under a partnership with the Capital Chemist Group.
Under the deal, the pharmacy group will donate $15,000 a year over three years, to enable the clinic to provide patients at any stages after their diagnosis with a free consultation.
Announcing the agreement, Capital Chemist Charnwood proprietor - former Pharmacy Guild of Australia Pharmacy of the Year Award winner - Samantha Kourtis (pictured), said it would provide patients with access to unique and effective treatment.
"As community pharmacists, we feel the heartbeat of our community, we experience it every day - everyone has been touched by cancer," she said.
"We see many patients during and after cancer treatment, and we see the challenges and struggles they face, so helping to fund a program that offers nutrition, exercise and mental health support is so important."
The clinic aims to make the initial consultation the first step in developing a holistic allied health treatment plan aimed at mitigating treatment-related side effects, Exercise Physiology Clinical Supervisor, Melanie Moore, said.
"Being able to offer the first consultation free is an incentive to get more people through the doors of the clinic, and started on a supportive care plan that can really make a difference," she said.
"We know now, more than ever, that healthcare affordability is a challenge, so being able to help support patients with a donation of this magnitude is incredible."
Cancer patient, Cassandra Bennett, who recently had her first consultation at the clinic, said the program "gives a patient a certain level of control" when it comes to their treatment.
The 42-year-old, who was initially diagnosed with brain cancer in 2018, said being able to access the service was essential for patients in order to take control of their health.
"When you get a diagnosis like this, someone tells you when you have a surgery, when you take your medicine, so being in control of this treatment plan is important," she said.
"As a cancer patient, you often see a change in your financial position, so being able to access these services for free means that money can go to other services."
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