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Cancer Control Strategy and Action Plan

New Zealand has developed a Cancer Control Strategy, which sets principles and goals to guide existing and future actions to control cancer.

Cancer control is an organised approach to reducing the burden of cancer through prevention; screening and early detection; diagnosis and treatment; support and rehabilitation; palliative care; and data collection and research.

Following the release of the Strategy in August 2003, the Cancer Control Taskforce was established to produce the New Zealand Cancer Control Strategy Action Plan 2005–2010, which describes in detail how the objectives of the Strategy will be achieved.

Purpose and implementation

New Zealand’s Cancer Control Strategy key purposes are to:

  • reduce the incidence and impact of cancer; and
  • reduce inequalities with respect to cancer.

The New Zealand Cancer Control Strategy Action Plan 2005–2010 describes how the objectives of the Strategy will be achieved.

The Ministry of Health, District Health Boards (DHBs), Regional Cancer Networks, Primary Health Organisations (PHOs), nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) and consumer groups all have a role in implementing the New Zealand Cancer Control Strategy Action Plan.

Goals

The Cancer Control Strategy Action Plan has six overarching goals:

Goal 1: Reduce the incidence of cancer through primary prevention

Goal 2: Ensure effective screening and early detection to reduce cancer incidence and mortality

Goal 3: Ensure effective diagnosis and treatment of cancer to reduce cancer morbidity and mortality

Goal 4: Improve the quality of life for those with cancer, their family and whanau through support, rehabilitation and palliative care

Goal 5: Improve the delivery of services across the continuum of cancer control, through effective planning, co-ordination and integration of resources and activity, monitoring and evaluation

Goal 6: Improve the effectiveness of cancer control in New Zealand through research and surveillance

Cancer Control Programme

The Cancer Control Programme is a national programme that covers the Ministry of Health, DHBs and regional cancer network activity across the cancer continuum to implement the New Zealand Cancer Control Strategy and Action Plan. The programme is led by the Ministry of Health working closely with DHBs and regional cancer networks.

To maintain these close working relationships, the Programme is governed by a joint Ministry of Health and District Health Board Steering Group. Further information the Programme's governance structure is provided in the documents below:

2012/13 National Cancer Programme Work Plan

2011/12 National Cancer Programme Work Plan

2010/11 National Cancer Programme Work Plan

2009/10 Cancer Control Programme Work Plan

2008/09 Cancer Control Programme Work Plan

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