Pancare Foundation welcomes the Australian Government’s delivery of the National Pancreatic Cancer Roadmap (Roadmap) and commitment of $20.3 million to support improved outcomes and survival for Australians affected by pancreatic cancer.

The Roadmap, developed by Cancer Australia at the invitation of the Hon Greg Hunt, Minister for Health and Ageing, was overseen by a multidisciplinary National Pancreatic Cancer Steering Group. Its implementation will require collective input and action from people affected by pancreatic cancer, health professionals, professional colleges, researchers, pancreatic cancer organisations, peak bodies, non-government and government organisations.

The Roadmap identifies the government’s key priority areas over the next five years. These priority areas were developed with community stakeholders and cover all aspects of the pancreatic cancer pathway, including prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment, supportive and palliative care, and research.

We are delighted with the new focus on support for regional and rural families, specifically the provision of culturally appropriate models of care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Pancare Foundation CEO Doug Hawkins welcomed today’s announcement.

On behalf of all Australians impacted by pancreatic cancer, we are grateful to the government, Cancer Australia and in particular to Minister Hunt for elevating pancreatic cancer to the national agenda and for this crucial boost in funding to support improved outcomes and survival.

Pancare is proud of our involvement in the development of the report, along with the many families who contributed to community consultations and our colleagues from the Australian Pancreatic Cancer Alliance. We are pleased to see awareness and access to supportive care listed as a key priority in the Roadmap, of which Pancare has been pioneering through our PanSupport program.

How the funding will support key priorities

To revolutionise the early detection, management and care of people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer $3.3 million is being invested in five Roadmap priorities for the early detection, management and care of people with pancreatic cancer, including culturally appropriate models of care.

The Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) will provide funding for research that aligns with two Roadmap priorities:

• $6 million to progress therapeutic approaches for improving the management of pain and symptoms in individuals with pancreatic cancer through the MRFF Emerging Priorities and Consumer Driven Research Initiative.
  
• $6 million will fund involvement in international collaborative clinical trials through the MRFF Clinical Trials Activity Initiative.

In addition, the Government will provide $5 million to support Epworth HealthCare’s Pancreatic Centre to seek ways to detect pancreatic cancer early and improve treatment options.

The Roadmap and other federal policy work underway will be considered as part of Pancare’s landmark State of the Nation: Upper Gastrointestinal (GI) Cancers in Australia. The report, due for release in 2022, will make strategic recommendations for the improvement of outcomes for people impacted by all upper GI cancers in Australia.

Cancer Australia’s Roadmap is an interactive, web-based tool which helps users to easily identify information in their areas of interest across the continuum of pancreatic research, treatment and care. 

For more information, visit Cancer Australia’s National Pancreatic Cancer Roadmap.