A Victorian prisoner killed himself after the state's prison authorities repeatedly cancelled his medical treatment, an inquest has been told.
Mulvan Jovanoski died on April 11, 2018, after falling four metres from a second tier walkway at Fulham prison, where the 57-year-old was on remand on drugs charges.
The role that delays in urgent treatment for suspected cancer played in his death will be at the heart of the inquest.
Mr Jovanoski already had an operation for thyroid cancer in 2015, and within weeks of his transfer to Fulham in October 2017, he told medical staff he was worried his cancer had returned.
An ultrasound taken in January 2018 revealed a large mass in his neck, and medical staff at St Vincent's hospital determined he needed surgery within a month, counsel assisting told the inquest.
He was twice transferred to the Metropolitan Remand Centre, a three-hour drive from Fulham, for urgent procedures at St Vincent's, but prison authorities cancelled his appointments due to a lack of transport.
A third procedure in April was also cancelled when prison authorities did not transfer him to Melbourne.
At a medical review with a prison doctor early that month, Mr Jovanoski was unable to swallow due to swelling in his neck.
On the day he died, Mr Jovanoski was heard arguing loudly on the phone to his lawyer, just before he climbed on to the high walkway in his prison unit and fell.
He underwent emergency surgery at the Alfred hospital but died from head injuries.
Mr Jovanoski was in custody for failing to answer bail on drugs charges, after police found a hydroponic cannabis set up at his home in St Albans.
The hearing continues.
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