Cancer expert to head review into efficient and equitable access to chemotherapy medicines

Page last updated: 1 May 2021

Renowned cancer expert Professor Sanchia Aranda AM will head an Australian Government review aimed at making access to chemotherapy medicines more efficient and equitable for patients.

Professor Aranda is one of Australia’s pre-eminent experts in cancer control. Professor Aranda’s passion is to improve outcomes for all Australians with cancer and reduce the inequalities experienced by Australians who are Indigenous, have a lower socio-economic background, or are living in regional or remote areas.

Professor Aranda has 40 years’ experience as a clinician, researcher, educator and health system administrator. She is Chair of the City Cancer Challenge, the former CEO of Cancer Council Australia, and the immediate Past President of the Union for International Cancer Control.

Highly experienced in all fields of cancer from prevention through to survivorship, she has a particular professional interest in improving ways to care for and support people with cancer.

As part of the 2020–21 Budget, the Australian Government authorised a review of the current Efficient Funding of Chemotherapy (EFC) arrangements. The review will look at simplifying production, distribution and access along the chemotherapy medicines supply chain.

Professor Aranda will hold the position of Lead Reviewer, with the University of Technology Sydney Centre for Health Economics Research and Evaluation assisting in the role of a Health Economics and Policy Advice Unit.

The review will release a discussion paper over coming months, and call for submissions. Feedback will help develop a final report due to the Government by 30 June 2022.