Editor’s note : Australia faces challenges in the field of cancer prevention and treatment. However, under the challenge, there is also hope. The Australian government is actively taking action to develop the first national cancer plan, committed to addressing inequality in the healthcare sector and ensuring that every Australian person has access to the highest quality of cancer care. On the eve of the “2023 Chinese Congress on Holistic Integrative Oncology (2023 CCHIO) “, “Oncology Frontier” interviewed Dr. Dorothy Mary Keefe, the CEO of Cancer Australia, to introduce the current status and future development vision of cancer prevention and treatment in Australia.
Dr. Dorothy Mary Keefe
Adelaide Medical School
Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
Oncology Frontier : Could you please introduce the current state of cancer prevalence, diagnosis, and treatment in Australia?
Dr. Dorothy Mary Keefe: Australia has a population of only 26 million people, and it is estimated that 165,000 new cases of cancer occur each year, which means that one in two person will develop cancer by the age of 85. For cancer diagnosis and treatment, we have implemented three screening programs: for breast cancer, cervical cancer, and bowel cancer. Currently, we are in the process of introducing a fourth screening program for lung cancer. Everyone who meets the eligibility criteria is invited to participate in these screening programs. If someone does not participate in the screening programs, diagnosis is made based on the presence of symptoms. In Australia, we have a universal health coverage system, which ensures that all 26 million people are covered. This system is a combination of coverage provided by the Commonwealth or federal government, as well as the individual states and territories. It is a hybrid of public and private coverage, but everyone is included. The accessibility of treatment varies depending on your residence and background. In our case, the outcomes for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are not satisfactory, and this is an area we need to focus on in the future.
Oncology Frontier : Could you talk a little bit about the accessibility of cancer treatment in Australia?
Dr. Dorothy Mary Keefe: Australia is a vast country with a relatively small population. While the majority of the population resides in major cities, there are also rural and remote communities. The primary public hospitals are located in these big cities, and as one moves further away from these urban centers, specialized care becomes less accessible. Consequently, individuals sometimes need to travel vast distances to receive treatment, or specialist treatment must be brought out to the rural areas. Fortunately, we are making strides in improving healthcare access through telehealth, which has made consultations between doctors and patients who are not in the same city much more convenient. However, the actual administration of treatment still poses a challenge. Recently, we have launched our inaugural national “Australian cancer plan” that aims to tackle these inequalities and establish a patient navigation model to ensure everyone can access the highest quality care.
Oncology Frontier : How does the Cancer Australia promote cancer control in Australia?
Dr. Dorothy Mary Keefe: Cancer Australia is a government agency dedicated to cancer. Our responsibilities include providing leadership, developing policies, and maintaining communication with all stakeholders. We support individuals throughout their entire cancer journey, from prevention to end-of-life care. We collaborate with various partners, maintain informative websites, and have recently launched the “Australian Cancer Plan” website, which outlines our priorities for the next decade. Through this plan, we invite the entire sector to collaborate with us in implementation efforts. We engage actively in various media channels, social media platforms, and meetings to connect with diverse stakeholders and share valuable information.
Oncology Frontier : Integration and cooperation are themes of the CCHIO conference. What are your expectations for the cooperation of cancer prevention and treatment organizations around the world?
Dr. Dorothy Mary Keefe: The conference theme of integration and cooperation encourages me because we can achieve so much more when we collaborate than when we work alone. In Australia, the national cancer plan was created because individual states were unable to achieve what the national plan could achieve . Similarly, on a global scale, we cannot solve cancer alone for the entire world, but by working together, we have a better chance. We can learn from experts in other countries, and regions where certain cancers are more prevalent, such as gastric and liver cancers in the Asia Pacific, which offer opportunities for cross-learning. International cooperation is essential for accessing new treatments through collaborative clinical trial research. By collaborating, we can overcome our challenges.
