INVESTMENTS TO ADDRESS HEALTH INEQUITIES IN PROSTATE CANCER CARE Movember funds three Australian programs targeting under-served populations
SEGMENT
Filmed in Melbourne | February 2025
INTERVIEWS
Sarah Weller
Global Director – Prostate Cancer, Movember
Kris Bennett,
Director – Prostate Cancer Health Equity, Movember
Movember is committed to advancing new research, cutting-edge treatments, and healthy behaviours, and advocating for inclusive, gender-responsive healthcare that caters to the unique needs of men, women, and gender-diverse individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds. In doing so, they hope to forge a future where barriers to healthy living are overcome, stigmas are removed, and where everyone has an equal opportunity to live a long, healthy life.
Income, education, geographical location, and discrimination based on ethnicity, race, gender and sexual orientation, are only a fraction of factors that can negatively affect a person’s quality of cancer care. This is defined as the “equity gap” and it’s costing people their lives.
Timed to coincide with World Cancer Day 4th February 2025, Movember announced prostate cancer investment of $5.5 million. Eighteen grants (16 proposals and 2 community development grants) are slated to directly tackle inequities in prostate cancer care. The funding will be over three years with the grants spread across five countries – six in Canada, five in the United Kingdom, three in Australia, three in the United States and one in Ireland – each having a specific focus population and care area.
AUSTRALIAN FUNDING FOR TARGETED PROSTATE CANCER CARE OUTREACH PROGRAMS
– The prostate cancer mortality rate in remote areas is almost 20% higher than in major cities. Access to treatment is the leading cause. This equity gap is what the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia’s grant will address, to improve access to and use of prostate cancer treatment services in rural and remote areas.
– Currently, prostate cancer data on the culturally and linguistically diverse communities of South Western Sydney is insufficient. That’s the first roadblock to improving this historically overlooked group’s prostate cancer care. The George Institute for Global Health aims to fill in the blanks with population level data to help close this equity gap.
– Australian Prostate Centre will create culturally appropriate prostate cancer services and practices for the LGBTQIA+ community, to counter the fear of discrimination and stigma that often stands in its way of getting prostate cancer screenings and diagnoses.
Australian Health Journal spoke with Movember about these targeted outreach programs in Australia and the hope they will help provide education and empower historically and intentionally excluded communities, using community stakeholders and voices to build trust. Collaborations with healthcare providers, academic institutions, and community-based organisations will share resources and expertise to develop tailored solutions.
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Ensuring stringent quality standards in the lifecycle of medical devices
Dr Jasjit Baveja is the Associate Director of Policy at the Medical Technology Association of Australia (MTAA), where she oversees regulatory affairs, clinical code of practice, procurement, industry policy, reimbursement, and advocacy. With over 20 years of experience in the medical device regulatory space, Dr Bavej’s expertise lies in providing educational opportunities for regulatory professionals in Australia to ensure continuous learning and professional development. She collaborates closely with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) to run workshops that provide invaluable experience, networking opportunities, and skill enhancement.
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Artificial Intelligence (AI) in clinical trials and clinical care
Australian Health Journal today continues a major episode release on Technology Aided Healthcare Delivery, with part 2 on Artificial Intelligence in trials and clinical care. Interviews were captured at AI, Machine Learning & Robotics in Health conference in October organised by Informa Australia.
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Medicinal cannabis in Australia Update
According to the Australian Journal of General Practice, published by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, more than 130,000 medicinal cannabis approvals have been issued in Australia to date, mostly by general practitioners, with approximately 65% of these to treat chronic non-cancer pain. Despite robust supportive data from animal models, current clinical trial evidence for THC and CBD efficacy in chronic pain is incomplete. In their prescribing decisions, doctors must balance patient demand and curiosity with caution regarding potential risks and limited efficacy (Source: https://www1.racgp.org.au/ajgp/2021/october/medicinal-cannabis)
Australian Health Journal met with 3 speakers at the recent @arcsaustralia ARCS22 Conference providing an update on medicinal cannabis. The discussion with the speakers now centres on affordability and access.
