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About 60 people rallied in Toowoomba's city centre last night, protesting against planned cuts to the rebate of some chemotherapy drugs.
The Federal Government is slashing the rebate for the chemotherapy drug Docetaxel by 70 per cent from next month, saying pharmacists have been overcharging it.
Toowoomba's St Andrews Hospital says that could force the closure of its cancer centre.
Rally organiser Ronald Fraser says cancer sufferers are being penalised in a dispute between the Government and pharmacists.
"Everybody is affected in some way by cancer, if not themselves they've got a relative or someone who's been touched by cancer," he said.
"These people really need help and the Government taking away funding for vital chemotherapy drugs doesn't help, it just adds to the stress and depression these people [have] when they go through cancer."
Mr Fraser says he is happy with the turnout of last night's protest.
"Let the Prime Minister know, let the Health Minister know that we are not happy with this decision," he said.
"They have a problem yes with the chemotherapy drug and the pharmacists that supply it but that should not relate to a problem for the cancer sufferers.
"It only adds to their stress that they're already having to undergo by having cancer anyway."
Topics: pharmaceuticals, cancer, activism-and-lobbying, health-administration, toowoomba-4350
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