Infrastructure funding helps expand cancer treatment in far southern Illinois
By COLE LONGCOR
Capitol News Illinois
clongcor@capitolnewsillinois.com
A $10 million state grant will help complete an expansion of cancer treatment services in southern Illinois.
The grant was awarded as part of the Rebuild Illinois infrastructure program to the Southern Illinois Healthcare Cancer Institute to complete an expansion of the Carterville facility. In addition, the facility was awarded $300,000 to expand and overhaul its cafe and kitchen.
“This is one of the best investments you can make,” Gov. JB Pritzker said. “As governor, there is nothing more important that I can do than to improve the health and safety of Illinoisans no matter their zip code, no matter their income status.”
SIH President and CEO John Antes said that the average daily number of patients has tripled since 2015, and the institute now serves about 300 patients daily. The SIH Cancer Institute provides a range of treatment options in a medically underserved region.
“The expansion of this cancer research center heralds a transformative era in healthcare accessibility,” Sen. Dale Fowler, R-Harrisburg, said. “No longer will cancer patients face the burden and the stress of traveling to other states for care. This state-of-the-art facility is a beacon of hope.”
In addition to improving access to care, Antes said the facility expansion will also bring economic benefits to the region.
“At SIH, as the largest private employer in southern Illinois, we are committed to this community,” Antes said. “That’s why we provided more than $1 billion of charity uncompensated and community benefit over the last 10 years.”
Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service covering state government. It is distributed to hundreds of newspapers, radio, and TV stations statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, along with major contributions from the Illinois Broadcasters Foundation and Southern Illinois Editorial Association.
