Close X
Wednesday, November 20, 2024
ADVT 
National

B.C. provides $20M to expand travel, accommodation funding for cancer patients

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 07 Aug, 2024 04:28 PM
  • B.C. provides $20M to expand travel, accommodation funding for cancer patients

The British Columbia government is providing $20 million over two years to support travel and lodging for cancer patients in the province.

A statement from the Ministry of Health says the funding for the Canadian Cancer Society builds on a provincial commitment of $10 million last year.

Health Minister Adrian Dix says thousands of patients and caregivers have already benefited from the program's expansion last year.

Jennifer Rice, Parliamentary secretary for rural health, says living with cancer is already a challenge, and worrying about the costs of travelling for treatment makes the experience even more difficult, especially for patients in remote areas.

The statement says nearly 1,400 patients from 249 communities received travel support funding through the cancer society's travel treatment fund in 2023 to 2024, representing a 742 per cent increase from the previous year.

It says 11,722 nights at Canadian Cancer Society lodges were also provided at no cost to patients last year, a departure from the previous nightly cost of $55.

MORE National ARTICLES

B.C. judge allows cannabis 'fire sale' to stave off CRA destruction threat

B.C. judge allows cannabis 'fire sale' to stave off CRA destruction threat
A British Columbia Supreme Court judge has approved the bulk sale of more than 1,200 kilograms of cannabis by a company after the Canada Revenue Agency threatened to destroy it.  The agency had earlier declined to renew the company's excise tax licence due to financial difficulties.

B.C. judge allows cannabis 'fire sale' to stave off CRA destruction threat

A week since Amber Alert issued for missing children, location remains unknown

A week since Amber Alert issued for missing children, location remains unknown
Surrey R-C-M-P say it's been one week since an Amber Alert was activated for Aurora and Joshuah Bolton, whose whereabouts remain unknown. Police say they're still concerned for the children's safety after their mother, Verity Bolton, didn't return them to their father after a trip.   

A week since Amber Alert issued for missing children, location remains unknown

Weather delivers modest respite for wildfire starts in B.C.

Weather delivers modest respite for wildfire starts in B.C.
Fire and emergency management officials are set to provide an update on the state of wildfires around British Columbia, as recent rains have offered some reprieve but several blazes still threaten communities. The BC Wildfire Service is reporting 412 active wildfires, down by about 70 since Monday.

Weather delivers modest respite for wildfire starts in B.C.

Former senator, MP and journalist Pat Carney is dead at the age of 88

Former senator, MP and journalist Pat Carney is dead at the age of 88
Pat Carney, who pioneered roles for women in Canadian politics and journalism, has died at the age of 88. Her niece, Jill Carney, confirmed in a statement that the former MP and senator passed away Tuesday.   

Former senator, MP and journalist Pat Carney is dead at the age of 88

Vancouver Island woman sentenced for coughing in face of a grocery store clerk

Vancouver Island woman sentenced for coughing in face of a grocery store clerk
A Vancouver Island woman has been sentenced to 18 months of probation for coughing in the face of a grocery store clerk on purpose in the earliest days of the pandemic. The woman was found guilty in April of assaulting the employee and causing a disturbance at the Save-On-Foods in Campbell River in April 2020.

Vancouver Island woman sentenced for coughing in face of a grocery store clerk

Body found in Oak Bay, police investigate

Body found in Oak Bay, police investigate
Police are investigating after a body was discovered in Oak Bay. A section of Beach Drive was closed from Monterey Avenue to King George Terrace this morning after the discovery.

Body found in Oak Bay, police investigate