Cancer Reform

News

April 2010 | The Federal Department of Health and Ageing recently released the Delivering Better Cancer Care policy document. This policy forms part of the Government's health reform agenda.

 

National Service Improvement Framework

 

The Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing developed a National Service Improvement Framework for Cancer, to pursue a national strategic approach to chronic disease prevention and management. Further information can be found at the Department's website.

 

Victorian Government cancer services reform

 

Over a number of years, the Victorian Government has been developing a range of initiatives relating to cancer prevention, screening, treatment and research. In 2002, the Government committed to a state-wide redevelopment of cancer services (Fighting Cancer Policy), this was followed with theCancer Services Framework for Victoria, which outlined four priority areas for cancer service improvement:

  • multidisciplinary care
  • care coordination
  • supportive care
  • reducing unwanted variations in care

The Framework also recommended the establishment of integrated cancer services (ICS) and for tumour groups to be coordinated within each of the ICS regions.

 

Victoria's Cancer Action Plan 2008-2011

 

In December 2008, the Victorian Government launched Victoria's Cancer Action Plan 2008-2011 (VCAP). VCAP provides a medium term vision for ongoing reform that will build on the ICS' work undertaken over the past five years. VCAP also includes key targets and milestones across four key areas:

  • prevention
  • research
  • treatment
  • support

It is the first time targets and milestones have been attached to the delivery of cancer services across the state. The aspirational goal of VCAP is to accelerate the increase in survival from cancer by a further 10% by 2010. If the 10% improvement in survival can be achieved by implementing the actions in VCAP, by 2015 the 5-year survival for Victorians with cancer will be 74% (up from 67%).

cancer action goal graph

 

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