Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has used the World Economic Forum in Davos to meet with various pharmaceutical companies to discuss the high cost of cancer treatment.
Thousands of poor South Africans die every year because government cannot afford certain cancer treatments.
Motsoaledi says engagements that started in Davos have already helped to bring down the cost of breast cancer treatment.
However, treatment of other cancers such as colon cancer are still not available in the public health sector due to high costs.
“They will tell you that this drug is not on the essential drug list, you have to go and find it yourself. In other words it’s individualistic care which we don’t want.”
“Now treatment for colorectal cancer can go up to R800 000, how many people will ever be able to afford it, it’s almost a death sentence, all human beings need to have access.”
