The cancer lottery Australia can’t afford to keep playing

Patients diagnosed with cancer often find themselves navigating a system riddled with delays, inequities, and difficult choices – some of which can mean the difference between life and death.

A/Professor Christopher Steer, President, Private Cancer Physicians of Australia (PCPA) and Penny George, Director of Corporate Affairs, AstraZeneca are calling for a bridging funding to end the cancer lottery and enable more Australians to access time-critical cancer treatments.

A/Professor Steer has seen the harsh reality first-hand. “The financial toxicity of the diagnosis is a big problem. Add into that the fact that sometimes treatments that the science tells us should be used are not subsidised,” he stated. “The current health technology assessment (HTA) is failing.”

However, the push for a bridging funding comes with political hurdles. Medicines Australia CEO Liz de Somer has cautioned that if not handled correctly, it could disrupt the wider and long-overdue HTA reforms that are already three years into the review process.

George is adamant that both can happen in parallel, saying “Careful consideration is always important, but what’s also important is that we don’t become complacent about the urgent need for reform.”

“This is not about new money. It’s about earlier implementation of drugs which get funded anyway,” A/Professor Steer emphasised.

Indeed, lessons from the UK, Scotland, and Wales provide a roadmap. George expanded on the potential model for Australia, pointing to an “iterative” approach for continuous improvement.

It’s a question of priorities. The bridging funding, whilst being hidden in the HTA review report, is a recommendation that A/Professor Steer urged should be “top of the list”.

Federal Health Minister Mark Butler and Shadow Health Minister Senator Anne Ruston have yet to commit to the plan. With an election on the horizon, the window for action is closing fast.

“The way that the [HTA] Implementation Advisory Group (IAG) has been constructed gives the opportunity for certain recommendations to have a spotlight shone on them and be fast tracked. That’s what we hope to see before the election,” George emphasised.

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