Australian Citizen Refused Cancer Treatment For Living Abroad Too Long

The ABC news reports that a wheelchair-bound Australian citizen was refused treatment for throat cancer at the Royal Darwin Hospital as he wasn’t eligible for Medicare.

The reason for this death sentence? He’s lived in the Phillipines for over 5 years and thus became ineligible for Medicare and couldn’t afford treatment there.


A spokesperson for federal Health Minister Tony Abbott says the Medicare rules are clear and Mr Cooper is not eligible for treatment.