At the beginning of the year, the cancer treatment foundation will receive 115,000 euros from the 2019 state budget as an operating grant, or so-called political protection money. This is half of the amount the foundation paid in medication VAT last year.

"I would like to thank the parliament on behalf of the cancer treatment foundation. Our special thanks goes to the members of the Estonian Conservative People's Party and the Centre Party, and the members of the state Finance Committee who proposed this," said Toivo Tänavsuu.

"The allocation covers just half of the amount the foundation paid in medication VAT in 2018. We will invest this money in people's health, giving cancer patients not protected by the Health Insurance Fund's umbrella a gift of hope, a chance to live longer or even fully recover," said the head of the foundation.

"None of the money allocated to us goes for fixing the roof of a hometown community centre. Nor does it go to any organisations connected to any member of the parliament. Yet, anyone may unexpectedly need it. So far the foundation has helped more than 550 people, among whom were the loved ones of two parliament members and two ministers," he added.

At the beginning of 2018, the parliament allocated 90,000 euros to the foundation as an operating grant, which made up about 3-4% of the cancer treatment foundation's 2018 revenue. This year's 115,000 euros equals 8 cents per resident of Estonia and 20 cents per Estonian taxpayer.

Toivo Tänavsuu also invites every member of the parliament to support the cancer treatment foundation with a personal regular donation.