Some cancer patients receiving chemotherapy are 'stressed' that their car could be clamped by the time they leave the hospital.
Irish Cancer Society CEO Averil Power said many patients simply can't cope with the added cost of parking charges, which can be as much as €300 per month.
It comes after it emerged measures to introduce a cap on charges for patients has been delayed.
The Journal reports the HSE is redoing work on the issue it completed five years ago.
Ms Power told The Hard Shoulder they have been waiting over a decade for the changes.
"This is really very frustrating, it's an issue that's constantly raised with us both by patients and by their families," she said.
"When you have cancer obviously the physical and emotional toll is immense, but the financial toll is also huge.
"If someone is sick themselves they're off work, but a loved one often has to take time off to look after them as well.
"Being down on income and then having to pay these charges of, in some cases, up to €300 per month in parking fees, is having a huge toll on people.
"They just can't cope, especially with all the other costs at the minute.
"It's so frustrating that 10 years on we're still talking about this".
'Postcode lottery'
Ms Power said the Government needs to step in and change the system.
"The Government's committed to finding the money," she said.
"It is at a national level... a drop in the ocean for the HSE budget."
She said it is "unfortunate" that some individual hospitals are using the parking charges "to make up other funding shortfalls elsewhere".
A parking meter in Dublin, 26-11-21. Image: Sam Boal / RollingNews.ieMs Power said while some hospitals offer concessions, it all depends on the location.
"There's huge variation and really it's a postcode lottery, which is really unfair," she said.
"Out of 27 cancer-treating hospitals, 12 are free, five have concessions - they would have either a capped daily rate or multi-trip passes.
"Ten out of 27 - this was in a survey we did a few months ago - had no specific concessions.
"That means in some cases people are paying parking fees of €3.20 an hour, it's like a shopping centre".
Ms Power said some patients have said they are "stressing out" whether they put enough money in the meter while in hospital getting chemotherapy.
"It's just an incredible amount of stress for people that's unnecessary", she added.
Recent research also found almost half of terminal cancer patients receiving treatment at home did not have any central heating.
It revealed stark levels of energy hardship experienced by those receiving palliative care at home.
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