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The Australian government launched its first national approach to resolve gaps in indigenous cancer care. Minister for Health Sussan Ley announced that the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Framework establishes seven new priorities to reduce the increasing cancer mortality rates in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.

The framework comes on the heels of recent statistics revealing that cancer mortality for indigenous Australians rose 16 percent since 1998, while rate for non-indigenous Australians fell 10 percent. Despite having a lower incidence rate, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are 30 percent more likely to die from cancer than non-Indigenous Australians, Ley said. She added that indigenous Australians are three and a half times more likely to die from cervical cancer, three times more likely to die from liver cancer and almost twice more likely to die from lung cancer than non-Indigenous Australians.

“These new statistics and the trend they paint are very concerning and I’m determined that we work together with our health professionals and the Indigenous community to provide better health outcomes,” Ley said. “While Australians generally have among the best cancer survival rates in the world, disappointingly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people continue to experience significant disparities in cancer outcomes when compared with non-Indigenous Australians.”

This is the first time in Australia that the government had partnered with indigenous communities, health professionals, service providers, cancer control organisations and researchers to address indigenous cancer. In addition to launching the framework, Ley announced that $350,000 will be allocated to a programme that would raise awareness about lung cancer and improve access to timely diagnosis and treatment in the indigenous community. “The programme will deliver 30 additional community workshops across the country for Indigenous Australians and will just as importantly work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health professionals to enhance their skill in providing culturally sensitive lung cancer care in line with the seven national priorities,” Ley explained.

According to Cancer Australia, which developed the framework, it is based on a systematic review of the available evidence and extensive national consultations, with contributions from over 500 individuals, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people affected by cancer, health professionals working with Indigenous people and experts in Indigenous cancer control. “The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Framework was developed to identify evidence-based priorities for the many communities, organisations and governments whose combined efforts are required to address the disparities and improve cancer outcomes for Indigenous Australians,” said Professor Helen Zorbas, Cancer Australia chief executive officer.

The seven identified priority areas which will have the greatest impact in addressing the disparities and improving cancer include: improving knowledge and attitudes about cancer; focusing prevention activities; increasing participation in screening and immunisation; ensuring early diagnosis; delivering optimal and culturally appropriate treatment and care; involving, informing and supporting families and carers; and strengthening the capacity of cancer-related services to meet the needs of indigenous people.

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