It has been reported that most of the patients referred to other clinics were diagnosed with deadly cancers like prostate, lung and breast cancer. It has been informed that last year about 1,944 patients were referred to other hospitals for screening. Out of them, 733 were diagnosed with cancer.

It has further been pointed out that the clinic experts in the field of diagnosing cancer were able to diagnose 5% of the women patients of breast cancer soon after two weeks. Considering the rise in the cancer cases it has been proposed that the GPs should be allowed to use electronic letters for referring patients to the cancer specialists.

Earlier, the letters were sent through post. But as the risk of the letter getting lost is high, it is now being proposed that the patients should be referred through electronic letter which would also save the time as letters through post takes some time to reach the destination.

It has been informed by the National Cancer Control Programme last year about 4,000 patients were referred by the GPs through electronic letters. Whenever patients are referred to specialists, 10% of the referral amount is sent to the specialist center.

It has been informed that about 80% of the GPs are using the electronic mode to provide the services to the patients. As the electronic mode of sending letters to the specialist is swifter it is hoped that many of the patients would be benefited by it. Moreover, through this scheme, patients with cancer would be provided with timely care which might help them in surviving.

The Health Minister, James Reilly, was reported as saying, "I want to see this transposed across the entire system so that all referrals in the future will be electronic. Patients will have certainty about their date and the record of their request."