Fragmented policies stalling genomic-led cancer care: ‘We’re not asking anymore,’ says RCA CEO

On World Cancer Day (4 February), Christine Cockburn, CEO of Rare Cancers Australia (RCA), unveils the findings of the Genomics Policy Roundtable Series, a collaborative effort between RCA and Australian Genomics.

Speaking with Health Industry Hub, Cockburn underscored the urgent need for a national strategy to harness the power of genomics in oncology, bridging policy gaps and driving equitable access to innovation.

According to Cockburn, genomic-led cancer care “lives in the world of research. It doesn’t live in clinical care equitably and in a way that makes sense.”

As the nation navigates a rapidly evolving genomic landscape, she posed a critical question: “Who’s responsibility is it to implement and embed genomic-led cancer care in Australia?”

Cockburn cautioned against a piecemeal approach. The report highlights practical considerations and next steps for achieving coordinated policy and system changes to create a sustainable, nationally consistent approach.

“Why can we not discuss things like price, access arrangements and risk sharing whilst people are on therapies? It’s arbitrary that patients have to wait while we have these bureaucratic discussions, it’s unethical,” she emphasised.

With a federal election on the horizon, Rare Cancers Australia is sharpening its advocacy efforts to ensure genomic-led cancer care remains a national priority.

“We must find a way forward. We’re not asking anymore. The recommendations have been handed down,” she asserted.

In reimagining healthcare across the entire patient journey, Health Industry Hub^TM is the only one-stop-hub uniting the diversity of the Pharma, MedTech, Diagnostics & Biotech sectors to inspire meaningful change.

The Health Industry Hub^TM content is copyright protected. Access is available under individual user licenses. Please click here to subscribe and visit T&Cs here.