The city was promised a radiation therapy unit to help cancer sufferers in the area in April 2019 as part of a pre-election promise from the federal government to spend $63 million boosting radiation therapy access across the nation.

Griffith was one of 13 areas expected to receive a service, with Armidale, Taree, Grafton and Eurobodalla also planned to receive a new service.

Currently, those who have been diagnosed with cancer are required to make a four-hour round trip to Wagga Wagga to receive radiation therapy treatment.

Member for Farrer Sussan Ley said the unit is still planned for the region, but applications to the office of federal health minister Greg Hunt regarding the provisions of the service only opened this month.

"This is a really important health initiative for the MIA and this part of NSW, making radiation therapy services for both public and private patients finally available to communities in our region," Ms Ley said.

"Applications from interested service providers are open from this month, obviously a little later than we hoped due to COVID-19 but at least now underway.

"It is expected an assessment and selection process will be complete by the end of this year, and I would hope we can then see something operational in 2021, but this will depend largely on who the successful applicant is and where the centre is established."

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Ms Ley said in May 2019 the "first thing" which will need to be done to get the service running would be to find a provider, suggesting the Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) as a potential provider for the unit.

MLHD are undergoing a current redevelopment of the city's base hospital, with preliminary plans not indicating a specific area for a proposed unit - but feedback is still being sought by the community regarding the proposed schematic design, with a shut-off date of July 15.

The Murrumbidgee Local Health District have also been approached for comment.