World Cancer Day: Merck and MSCAN leaders dig deeper into ‘Together, we challenge those in power’

Pharma News: Cancer remains the leading cause of death in Australia. With a multi-year campaign, the World Cancer Day theme is Close the Care Gap. In 2024, the focus of the theme is ‘Together, we challenge those in power’.

Meagan Walsh, Associated Medical Director of Oncology, Merck Healthcare and Tamara Dawson, CEO of MSCAN joined Health Industry Hub in reflecting on their deeply personal passion as cancer advocates.

The duo dug deeper into whether challenging those in power reflects the collective effort needed to bridge existing gaps in cancer care.

The conversation shifted to the landmark Australian Cancer Plan released in November and how each organisation contributed to its development. The discussion expanded to whether the Plan will attract the necessary policy changes and investment required to improve health inequities, especially among culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities, First Nations people, and those living in remote/rural areas.

Addressing the landscape of cancer research funding, the discussion delved into Cancer Australia’s recent data which showed a three-fold increase in funding but ignored the investment from the pharmaceutical industry. Ms Walsh provided insights into how Merck is contributing to cancer research both locally and globally, emphasising the need for a holistic approach, with industry-funded research playing a crucial role.

Lastly, Ms Dawson shared MSCAN’s advocacy priorities for the year and addressed the potential impact of an early federal election on their plans.

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