Vancouver: The B.C. government has announced details of a program that has been developed to cover transportation and accommodation costs of cancer patients living in rural and remote areas.
The province has said that $20 million will be provided to Canadian Cancer Society and Hope Air to expand travel support for such patients.
According to the province, both organizations will receive $10 million each to expand their travel programs and support cancer patients.
The Canadian Cancer Society will expand its three programs — the Travel Treatment Fund, which provides grants to patients for travel expenses; the Wheels of Hope program, which matches patients with volunteer drivers; and their four lodges, which offer accommodation and meals for patients and their caregivers near cancer centres in Victoria, Vancouver, Kelowna and Prince George.
Hope Air will expand its services to increase support for patients and caregivers through increased ground transportation, overnight accommodations and meal vouchers for patients. They will also provide 2,500 flights for patients in B.C. travelling to receive cancer treatment by 2026.