Should cancer care be a top election priority given broader healthcare challenges?

Australia’s private cancer specialists will convene in Melbourne this weekend for the Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM), where the spotlight will be on a heated debate over why Australians deserve more equitable, affordable, and timely access to cancer treatments.

The urgency of this discussion is underscored by a concerning statistic: it takes an average of 442 days for oncology medicines to be reimbursed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) following registration by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).

Icon Group Chief Medical Officer, Dr Ian Irving, told Health Industry Hub, “In Australia and around the world, we’re seeing a general increase in cancer diagnoses but more pressing, a spike in late-stage cancer cases. Cancer affects all aspects of a person’s life and impacts the broader healthcare system.

“With this growing demand and pressure on the sector, we need to continue investing in cancer care to ensure more Australians have access to world-class treatments. Through public private partnerships and fostering long-term government relations we can work together to bring more cancer care services to underserved communities and improve healthcare outcomes nationally.” 

Findings from a recent study revealed significant disparities in drug funding decisions across high-income countries, despite similar assessment criteria. For instance, Germany funds 100% of the best-selling cancer drugs, Italy follows with 94%, Japan with 82%, and countries like England, Canada, France, and Australia each fund around 79%. In stark contrast, New Zealand funds only 35% of these drugs.

The Private Cancer Physicians of Australia (PCPA) has been an integral part of a working group of clinicians, researchers, patient advocacy groups and industry – led by AstraZeneca- to co-design a Bridging/Interim Cancer Fund.

This initiative gained further momentum last week when Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services, The Hon Stephen Jones MP, participated in the working group’s roundtable. During the session, PCPA President, Professor Christopher Steer, and other cancer care leaders highlighted the devastating impact of delays in affordable access to treatments on the most vulnerable patients and their caregivers.

If the proposed funding pathway is adopted by the next government, it could be transformative for Australians with cancer, many of whom are currently faced with the heart-wrenching decision between paying for expensive, unfunded therapies or covering essential living expenses like rent or mortgage payments.

“As cancer specialists, we see a diagnostic technology or therapy tested and deemed effective, via clinical trials,” Professor Steer said.

“We see it being approved by the TGA and then our patients often wait months, sometimes years, for that therapy to be subsidised and they can affordably access it. This is incredibly frustrating and concerning and it must change.”

The plenary session at the PCPA ASM will draw comparisons to international models like the UK’s Cancer Drug Fund (CDF), launched in 2010 and updated in 2016, which has provided earlier access to cancer treatments for over 21,300 patients.

However, the debate will also address the complexities of implementing such a fund in Australia. The New Frontiers Report, for instance, highlighted the German CDF model and the need for a balanced approach that ensures accessibility, affordability, and transparency in cancer treatment provision.

“The system has faced fiscal challenges with some companies overpricing and failure of the system to claw back excess from use beyond indication, or failure to achieve health outcomes in real-world application versus clinical trials,” the report noted.

Advocating for the Bridging/Interim Cancer Fund will be a cornerstone of the PCPA’s non-partisan election manifesto, which also includes an initiative to reduce the financial toxicity of a cancer patient’s journey.

“Postcodes and bank balances should not dictate who has timely access to the latest cutting-edge cancer treatment,” Professor Steer said.

The potential impact of this policy is significant, with every $1 invested in cancer treatments in Australia generating $3.06 in social and economic value. This policy, therefore, warrants serious consideration and evaluation as the nation grapples with the challenge of providing equitable cancer care.

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