A new cancer plan has been announced and is set to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem as well as work to drive down the harm caused by all forms of cancer.
Unveiled by the Minister for Health, Jenny Mikakos the four-year State-wide Victorian Cancer Plan 2020-2024, Improving cancer outcomes for all Victorians will boost HPV (Human papillomavirus) vaccinations to vulnerable groups of young people and improve vaccination and screening reminders in order to eliminate cervical cancer.
“Alongside this, the plan will encourage the use of cervical screening self-collection tests to reach women who may be reluctant to have a conventional examination by a health professional,” Ms Mikakos said.
“This will be critical in the fight to eliminate cervical cancer as we know most women diagnosed have never been screened or are under-screened,” she said.
“The new Plan is also focused on addressing disparities across cancer rates, care and outcomes particularly for Aboriginal, regional and culturally diverse Victorians.”
Ms Mikakos said the average cancer survival rate for people living in metropolitan Melbourne was 70 per cent, higher than for those in regional Victoria, which was 66 per cent.
She said Aboriginal Victorians had significantly higher cancer incidence and mortality rates compared with other Victorians.
“To address these gaps the new Plan will focus on delivering more localised cancer treatment and care services for regional Victorians closer to home; Delivering more home-based care, telehealth, community-based care and self-management models of care to reduce barriers to accessing cancer services; and More flexible use of the health workforce, for example more nurse-led care in regional Victoria and more indigenous health workers specialising in cancer care.
“Our efforts to prevent and detect cancer earlier and ensure Victorians have access to the very best treatments mean more people are surviving and we are on track to save 10,000 lives by 2025.”
Ms Mikakos said more than 500 Victorians had their say on the Plan’s development,
The 88-page Plan can be accessed at this PS News link.
