AMA welcomes decision to keep PET scanner at Austin Hospital
Federal AMA Treasurer and senior oncologist, Dr Allan Zimet, said today the AMA welcomes the decision to maintain funding for a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanner at Melbourne's Austin and Repatriation Medical Centre.
Dr Zimet said that the hospital and the medical profession, particularly oncologists, were shocked at the original decision by former Health Minister, Dr Wooldridge, to withdraw funding for the PET scanner from the end of next month.
"Austin is a big hospital and many cancer patients from a wide area of Melbourne, from country Victoria and interstate are scanned there," Dr Zimet said.
"PET is an essential diagnostic imaging technology for the management of cancer patients.
"It is very useful in establishing whether or not surgery is necessary and in avoiding unnecessary operations.
"It is particularly useful in the management of lung cancer and colon cancer.
"PET is far superior to other diagnostic modalities for this purpose, and is also useful for the diagnosis of epilepsy.
"Austin's PET scanner is a vital resource for the community and well worth every cent of the $1.5 million annual Medicare funding needed to provide this vital service to the more than 1400 cancer sufferers who use this technology each year," Dr Zimet said.
CONTACT: John Flannery (02) 6270 5477 / (0419) 494 761
Sarah Crichton (02) 6270 5472 / (0419) 440 076