Public-private partnership set to transform treatment and services for patients with leukaemia

Pharma News: A public-private partnership with the Federal Government will transform the standard of care in enabling blood cancer patients to access the best treatment and support regardless of where they live.

The Federal Government’s $995,000 investment will enable the development of five new Optimal Care Pathways and a new set of clinical guidelines for a range of blood cancers.

This funding announcement coincides with the Leukaemia Foundation’s World’s Greatest Shave campaign, which runs from 16-20 March.

To complement this investment, the Leukaemia Foundation will provide more than $900,000 to develop a collaborative research roadmap for blood cancer, and promote better understanding of blood cancer within First Nations communities to inform better, culturally sensitive care.

Leukaemia Foundation CEO Chris Tanti welcomed the partnership as an important commitment from the Federal Government to improve treatment and care for all Australians facing blood cancer, no matter where they live.

“This is a significant milestone for the 110,000 Australians diagnosed with blood cancer every year. Together with the Federal Government we have a plan not only to save lives, but to bridge the gaps to better meet the diagnosis and treatment needs of every Australian who is told they have blood cancer.”

“We thank the Government for acknowledging the need for national leadership and action on blood cancer and helping us achieve our shared vision of zero lives lost to blood cancer by 2035. This funding continues the important work of the Blood Cancer Taskforce until June 2023. This is just the beginning. The National Action Plan for Blood Cancer is ambitious, and we must keep working together now and over the coming years. It’s going to take continued support from the entire blood cancer community, including government, to reach this shared goal.”

Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, said the Optimal Care Pathways and Australian-specific clinical guidelines will provide health professionals and patients with the best information to diagnose, manage and treat blood cancer.

“This will set the standard of care that all Australians should expect to receive when they are diagnosed with blood cancer, regardless of who they are or where they live, or what stage their disease is at,” Minister Hunt said.

“We know that blood cancer has a significant impact on many Australians and their families, which is why the Morrison Government is committed to continued investment into cancer research, management and treatment, to improve patient outcomes.”

The Federal Government and the Leukaemia Foundation are working together to fund priority recommendations from the Blood Cancer Taskforce’s National Strategic Action Plan for Blood Cancers. Through this partnership, the Government and the Leukaemia Foundation will enable the Blood Cancer Taskforce to focus on some of the most pressing, life-saving priorities for blood cancer from the Action Plan.