Over the next two years, Australia will develop a national cancer data framework to improve data accessibility.
WHAT MATTERS
The Australian government is working with the national non-profit Cancer Council Australia to develop the said framework. It will set the strategic direction and priorities for the collection, management, use and continued development of comprehensive and consistent health and cancer data.
There are several considerations in developing this framework, including alignment within the health data ecosystem to enable data sharing and linking outside the public health domain; clear governance, quality assurance and system-wide agreement between jurisdictions and industry on data sharing; and the national agreements on data sovereignty, regulation, governance and sharing between jurisdictions.
WHY IT MATTERS
Cancer services across Australia capture data differently, which hinders the creation of linked datasets across the country. Data custodians often also have their respective jurisdictional ethical requirements.
According to Cancer Australia, the country’s main cancer control agency, having a national cancer data framework that integrates and links data from multiple sources or sources will “enable consistency and comprehensiveness, and improve access and sharing, to drive evidence-based practice and inform improvements.” research and cancer care.”
“Improved data collection and availability, specific to priority populations, will improve research and drive continued improvement in optimal cancer care and treatment for all Australians.”
THE GREATER CONTEXT
Establishing a national cancer data framework is one of several initiatives outlined in the federal government’s Australian Cancer Plan. The landmark plan, developed by Cancer Australia, aims to improve the prevention, screening, treatment and management of all cancers for people from all walks of life across the country. A key and urgent priority of this plan is to achieve equity and improve outcomes for First Nations people, who are said to be 14% more likely to develop cancer and 45% more likely to develop the disease to die than their non-indigenous counterparts.
The Cancer Plan has six strategic objectives, each with a ten-year ambition, and is further supported by two- and five-year objectives, together with the associated set of actions.
One of these goals is to build a “modern, capable cancer control infrastructure,” with the aim of developing frameworks for collecting and reporting comprehensive cancer data and implementing new technologies into routine cancer care.
“Reliable and comprehensive” health and cancer data is said to be the foundation for optimal cancer care and a high-performing cancer care system. It is essential for informing the planning, implementation and continuous improvement of cancer care and for identifying policy and research priorities across the cancer control continuum.
In building a modern infrastructure for the monitoring of cancer care, the Australian Government will also expand access to digitally enabled cancer care by, among other things, investing in scalable new technologies and emerging techniques and creating policy and governance frameworks for the development of AI cancer care capabilities. The government also plans to increase access to virtual care among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
ON THE RECORD
“The burden of cancer is increasing, with more than 164,000 Australians estimated to be diagnosed this year. While cancer outcomes in this country are generally among the best in the world, that is not true for some people simply because of who they are or where they are. they are alive,” Minister of Health and Aged Care Mark Butler emphasized in a media statement.
“Our Australian Cancer Plan responds to patient concerns that the healthcare system is difficult to manage and will ensure no one falls through the cracks. Preventing cancer, and detecting and treating it earlier, will save countless individuals and families heartache and pain, as well as taking the pressure off our hospitals and the wider healthcare system,” he added.