I’d like to begin this week by acknowledging the testing times our colleagues in the broader health and medical sectors are encountering. Many are facing similar uphill battles with severe budget constraints, making progress challenging. However, we still need to do our best and press on for the sake of the patients that we serve, for whom waiting is sometimes not an option.
Emerging challenges require new solutions. It’s a reminder that as a cancer sector we need to be considering and investigating new approaches and innovative models of care to ensure we’re still delivering optimal outcomes for people affected by cancer. The VCCC Alliance continues to remain resolute in support of our members and wider medical communities in this capacity.
On that note, it’s a pleasure to announce the new VCCC Alliance 2024-2029 Strategy, which will provide world-class cancer care closer to home and ensure patients benefit from new research findings, therapies and an upskilled cancer workforce.
The strategy, which is built around five strategic pillars – collaborative research, data and technology, equitable care and outcomes, patient-powered, and leadership and learning – includes $7.5 million over the next four years from the Victorian Government.
Initiatives will focus on delivering equitable cancer care, particularly in regional areas, and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, culturally and gender diverse groups. Despite the difficult financial environment we are also committed to supporting key VCCC Alliance programs like Data Connect, the Centre for Cancer Education, and Centre for Cancer Immunotherapy. Our Collaborative Leadership model too will continue in the new strategy, which we’ve seen prove the power of what researchers and clinicians can achieve when working together.
Read more about the new strategy here.
“The VCCC Alliance recognises the vital role of sophisticated clinical and research data in driving innovation and quality in health care”, says Professor Sanchia Aranda AM, Chair of the VCCC Alliance.
“Together with the Alliance’s leadership in novel therapies and education programs that assist in attracting, developing and retaining a highly skilled cancer workforce, this places Victoria in a strong position to continue to improve outcomes for cancer patients.”
Last month our neighbours across the Tasman welcomed a significant milestone, with the New Zealand government announcing funding for 26 new cancer treatments. This includes a substantial $604 million uplift for medicines over the next four years.
This landmark investment proves the importance of advocating for progress and to ensure patients are receiving access to the best that modern medicine can provide. This is a reminder of where research sits in this process with no better example than the targeting of BCL-2. WEHI, lead a drug development program with our members, that has been instrumental in establishing an entirely new approach to treating cancer. WEHI’s success commercialising the drug Venetoclax garnered worldwide acclaim as a first-in-class targeted treatment for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL), and is emerging now as a potential combination treatment for the common blood cancer, Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML).
This homegrown example demonstrates so well how research can lead to groundbreaking developments that benefit local cancer sectors, economies, and patients here and around the world. New Zealand's health system, which has historically faced challenges in equitable access to cancer medicines, will now get greater benefits from the sustained global investment in cancer research. Exciting times ahead.
We recently enjoyed celebrating NAIDOC Week with our staff, members, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This celebration underscores our ongoing commitment to health equity, which is a top priority as we move forward with our new strategy and look towards contributions in the Victorian Cancer Plan and Australian Cancer Plan.
A system that delivers world-class outcomes to everyone, regardless of their situation, is where our sights are firmly set as we embark the next era at the VCCC Alliance. We look forward to working with our members and stakeholders in the coming years to bring this vision closer to reality.
Prof Grant McArthur AO
Chief Executive Officer
