I co-founded UCAN Ireland, an all Island cancer patient organisation established to unite patient voices and address systemic issues in cancer care in Ireland. UCAN was formed by powerful patient advocates from different cancers coming together, recognising the need for a single cancer patient organisation to ensure the patient voice cannot be ignored.
Since its launch in April 2025, UCAN has focused on exposing critical delays in the public reimbursement process for life-extending and lifesaving cancer medications, highlighting Ireland’s poor performance compared to European counterparts.
UCAN has engaged with national media, political representatives, and health policymakers to urge for reform of the drug approval and reimbursement process. The group played a leading role in public discourse around the rejection of Pluvicto® for public patients,
amplifying the voices of those directly affected and advocating for transparency and patient representation in decision-making.
UCAN operates on a 100% voluntary basis, maintaining independence and integrity in its advocacy efforts. It collaborates with clinicians, researchers, other cancer organisations and policy makers to raise awareness and drive change. UCAN has positioned itself as a credible and impactful voice in cancer policy reform in Ireland in its first year of operation.