New national task force will tackle poor blood cancer survival

Improving genetic testing and standardising care are on the agenda, govt says
Jocelyn Wright

The Federal Government has appointed a national task force to overhaul blood cancer care, including improving outcomes for people living in regional Australia.

On Sunday the government announced $150,000 for a task force spearheaded by the Leukaemia Foundation to develop a national action plan for the three major types of blood cancer: leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma.

The 21-member task force will be charged with developing an action plan to standardise care across the country and address how to reduce the survival gap between rural and urban patients.

They will also report to government on how to improve testing for patients with a genetic predisposition to blood cancers.