Local patients living with cancer and other chronic conditions will have one less thing to worry about as the NSW government comes good on its promise to fully cover the co-payments for public hospital patients receiving Section 100 Highly Specialised Drugs and Section 100 injectable and infusible chemotherapy medicines. Clarence MP Chris Gulaptis said the measure took effect on 1 October and would relieve some of worry for people with complex illnesses. “This change took effect on October 1 and will save patients with cancer or other chronic diseases an average $1,400 per year,” Mr Gulaptis said. “Patients with diseases such as HIV, schizophrenia, hepatitis, Crohn’s disease, cystic fibrosis, rheumatoid arthritis and severe allergic asthma as well as patients with organ and tissue transplants will all benefit. “This is particularly good for patients in regional NSW who have the added stress of travel to major hospitals. “The Government earlier made the Isolated Patients Travel and Accommodation Assistance Scheme (IPTAAS) fairer and more generous,” Mr Gulaptis concluded.