Published online:
02 August 2003
Summary
The New Zealand Cancer Control Strategy is the first phase in the development and implementation of a comprehensive and co-ordinated programme to control cancer in New Zealand. The strategy includes purposes, principles and goals to guide existing and future actions to control cancer. It also includes objectives and broad areas for action. The next phase will involve identifying priorities for action, planning implementation, and defining processes to manage, monitor and review implementation.
Overall purposes of the New Zealand Cancer Control Strategy
The overall purposes of the New Zealand Cancer Control Strategy are to:
- reduce the incidence and impact of cancer
- reduce inequalities with respect to cancer.
The principles of the New Zealand Cancer Control Strategy
All activities undertaken to meet these purposes should:
- work within the framework of the Treaty of Waitangi to address issues for Maori
- reduce health inequalities among different population groups
- ensure timely and equitable access for all New Zealanders to a comprehensive range of health and disability services, regardless of ability to pay
- be of high quality
- be sustainable
- use an evidence-based approach
- reflect a person-centred approach
- actively involve consumers and communities
- recognise and respect cultural diversity
- be undertaken within the context of a planned, co-ordinated and integrated approach.
The goals of the New Zealand Cancer Control Strategy
The goals of the New Zealand Cancer Control Strategy are to:
- reduce the incidence of cancer through primary prevention
- ensure effective screening and early detection to reduce cancer incidence and mortality
- ensure effective diagnosis and treatment to reduce cancer morbidity and mortality
- improve the quality of life for those with cancer, their family and whanau through support, rehabilitation and palliative care
- 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
- improve the effectiveness of cancer control in New Zealand through research and surveillance.