The stark cancer divide: BMS launches culturally safe resources for First Nations patients

Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) Australia has unveiled culturally appropriate educational resources designed to support First Nations Australians living with cancer and their carers, in a move aimed at closing one of the nation’s starkest health divides.

Cancer remains the leading cause of death among First Nations peoples, accounting for nearly one in four deaths. Yet, while mortality rates have fallen among non-Indigenous Australians, the opposite is true for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Between 2006 and 2019, age-standardised cancer mortality rates rose 14% for First Nations Australians, while falling 13% for others. The gap is widening, and the inequity is unacceptable.

These new resources, developed in collaboration with Aboriginal creative agency Mumbulla Creative and endorsed by the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO), will be distributed through Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs).

“We hope these resources make it easier for Mob to understand what may happen during their cancer treatment journey,” said Mumbulla Creative Director, artist and proud Kaurna and Narungga woman, Charmaine Mumbulla.

The handouts, co-designed with patients, community members and clinicians, focus on demystifying the treatment pathway. One guide outlines what to expect in lung cancer treatment, while another prepares patients for the often-daunting process of surgery.

But the challenge goes beyond educational resources.

Australia’s two-tier health system remains a barrier to equity. Underinvestment in public hospitals leaves patients vulnerable to triage queues and lengthy delays. While private care, accessible to only 20% of First Nations Australians with private health insurance, offers speed but not necessarily continuity of culturally safe, integrated care. Structural inequity is baked into the system, and timely access to quality cancer care is still not guaranteed.

Owen Smith, General Manager of BMS Australia & New Zealand, stressed the company’s role in addressing the disparity.

“As a contributor to this country’s healthcare system, we have a responsibility to understand and respond to the unique cultural and healthcare needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

“Providing resources and support for cancer patients within these communities is a step in the right direction. Self-determination is a guiding principle, and self-determination in healthcare policy is essential in addressing structural inequalities. We are committed to continuing to invest in initiatives that aim to make a positive impact on the lives of First Nations Australians.”

The initiative forms part of BMS’s Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan, signalling its commitment to reconciliation and the urgent need to dismantle barriers that keep cancer outcomes for First Nations Australians locked in a cycle of inequity.

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