Cancer patients seek help to buy medicine

An increasing number of people are asking the Malta Community Chest Fund (MCCF) to help them buy expensive medicines, eating into the Lm500,000 distributed annually by the charitable organisation.

Many requests come from cancer sufferers, who are faced with bills running into thousands of liri to buy costly drugs that could save their lives.

A particular course of treatment for cancer costs Lm16,000, a figure that is beyond the means of most patients, who go knocking on the MCCF's door for help.

MCCF secretary Pauline Pullicino said the charitable organisation gives patients half the sum needed to buy the potentially life-saving medication.

"Every year we get an increasing number of requests from cancer patients who need help to buy medication," she told The Times.

President Eddie Fenech Adami, who chairs the MCCF, said the majority of people who ask for help need specialised medicines that are not available on the national health service.

The relatives of patients who need treatment abroad also sometimes find themselves in need of financial assistance and turn to the MCCF for help.

The charitable organisation will be holding one of its main fund-raising events - the August Moon Ball - in three weeks' time.

The annual event, this year being held on August 4, is usually attended by over 800 people, who flock to Verdala Palace to enjoy themselves while helping others.

Marsovin will donate the wine to be sipped by the guests as they consume their six-course meal of tuna, duck breast and pork. Enemalta will waive the charge on the electricity used to light up the palace on the night.

Dr Fenech Adami urged the public to attend, adding that they would also get to see the progress in the restoration of the Paladini paintings in the palace's main hall.

Tickets for the black tie event are available at the MCCF's offices at the Palace, in Valletta, for Lm20 (€46.59). Further information is available on 2124 0568 between 8.30 a.m. and 12.30 p.m. on working days.