20 regional cancer care units to get $560 million for upgrades

By Dr. Ananya Mandal, MDApr 7 2010

There is good news for millions of cancer patients across Australia. Prime Minister Rudd has announced a contribution of $560 million with the intention of upgrading and opening new cancer centers in regional and rural communities all over Australia.

The rural areas are severely lacking in adequate cancer care that is seen in the three times higher rates of death within five years for these patients compared to those in the cities. With the aid of these 20 newly funded and upgraded Regional Cancer Centres cancer care will be brought closer to their homes says Prime Minister Rudd. The plan is to set up eight new regional cancer centres, seven upgrades to existing facilities, and four patient accommodation projects.

Cancer is increasingly becoming a major problem in Australia with 100,000 new cases being diagnosed every year, and around 40,000 people dying annually said Prime Minister Rudd. This initiative is central to the Government's $1.3 billion investment in improving cancer infrastructure announced in the 2009-10 Budget.

At Townsville Hospital, the Prime Minister announced $67.5 million to enhance the Townsville Cancer Centre to improve access to comprehensive services for people in North Queensland. Within the scope of this funding there will be three radiotherapy bunkers, two linear accelerators, a PET/CT scanner and 26 additional chemotherapy chairs. A further $2.6 million was also announced by Rudd for Mt Isa Hospital, to provide a new building to house enhanced tele-oncology and chemotherapy treatment services and provide space for three new chemotherapy treatment chairs.

Some of the hospitals where announcements in the same tune will be made by other Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries include Ballarat Regional Integrated Cancer Centre, New England and North West Regional Cancer Centre, St John of God Hospital and cancer services in Albany, Northam, Narrogin, Geraldton and Kalgoorlie.

The remaining announcements will come in the next few weeks. The Rudd government till date has already committed over $2.3 billion in cancer infrastructure, medicines, screening and research.