It's Budget time again and today we welcome the Victorian
Government's commitment to improving cancer survival rates through investment
in clinical research and health infrastructure.
The 2016 State Budget includes $19.8 million over four years
to accelerate the translation of medical research into clinical practice as
part of its Health and Medical
Research Strategy. The Clinical trial research program will be streamlined,
with funding for postdoctoral fellowships, clinical trials, and a medical
research acceleration fund to accelerate commercialisation.
$16.6 million has been allocated over the next four years to
cancer control services including the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre
Partnership and the Victorian Cancer Registry. This is welcome news and we look
forward to the details of the VCR funding arrangements.
As already announced, the Government will
spend $28.5 million in rolling out its Victorian Medicinal Cannabis Access
scheme in a two phase process. In the first instance, eligibility will be
limited to children with severe epilepsy, and phase two will expand access to
cover broader patient groups.
The Government has also committed $1 million for the first
stage of the Maroondah
Breast Cancer Centre and funding for infrastructure works at Austin Health,
Western Health Footscray and Sunshine.
We also welcome funding of regional
health centres including a
$1 million towards the $3.5 million Wimmera Cancer Centre, $2.1 million for an
urgent care centre at Moyne Health Service in Port Fairy, and for the
redevelopment of Goulburn Valley Health in Shepparton.