Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Sadly, an ever-increasing number of people are suffering from cancer in this country. Proton therapy, PT, is a significantly superior form of radiation therapy which spares a patient many of the side-effects of traditional radiotherapy, RT. To date, the development of PT has been limited compared with RT, principally because its comparative costs have been so great. A private company, Muir, has reimagined every aspect of the delivery of proton therapy such that it can deliver this superior form of cancer treatment at a cost equivalent to traditional radiotherapy. A number of discussions have been held with the HSE in Ireland, together with leading private healthcare providers, to explore the potential for treating patients with PT in Ireland and to meet the needs of patients in Northern Ireland. There is a consensus among the project participants that such a service would be of significant value if it could be developed on an affordable and sustainable basis.

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