Thu 8 February 2024
SHPA gives evidence at hearing into cancer diagnosis and treatment
On 1 February 2024, SHPA's Head of Policy and Advocacy Jerry Yik FANZCAP and Shaun O'Connor FANZCAP, Co-chair of SHPA's Oncology and Haematology Leadership Committee, gave evidence at the Hearing into Equitable access to diagnosis and treatment for individuals with rare and less common cancers, including neuroendocrine cancer. This was alongside the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP). Speaking to SHPA's full submission, Mr O'Connor acknowledged:
'There are still considerable gaps in inequities in access [to cancer medicines]... For example, the PBS will limit patients' access to medicine depending on the setting where they receive care [...] This issue of access is becoming more and more prominent as the costs of these therapies get more and more expensive.
'These gaps are also well demonstrated when looking at medicines and treatment for rare and less common cancers. Often, medicines for rare and less common cancers are not even registered by the Therapeutic Goods Administration [or] aren't listed on the PBS.
'Individual hospitals and patients may then be required to make decisions to self-fund these expensive and specialised therapies, and sometimes this can cause ethical quandaries for doctors... It may affect whether or not doctors inform patients about the opportunities that are available to them. As Medicare celebrates its 40th birthday [on the day of the hearing], this is not in the spirit of the healthcare system that we'd like to believe we have in Australia.'
The full transcript is available via the Parliament of Australia's website.