Professor Tom Keane, who heads Ireland's revamping of its cancer treatment program, feels strongly that setting up regional centers of excellence is more important that making mediocre care available locally. He's trying to follow the lead of successful programs in other areas, notably British Columbia. While patients may have to travel quite a ways for treatment, follow-up care is local.

Keane noted that concerns about distance for treatment for cardiovascular disease don't seem to be factor, though they seem to be for cancer care.

The Independent