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Pancreatic cancer in Australia: is not it time we address the inequitable resource problem?

    Savio George Barreto

    *Author for correspondence: Tel.: +61 8 8204 5511;

    E-mail Address: savio.barreto@sa.gov.au

    Division of Surgery & Perioperative Medicine, Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

    College of Medicine & Public Health, Flinders University, South Australia, Australia

    Published Online:https://doi.org/10.2217/fon-2020-0109

    The present study reviewed the geographical variations in the delivery of pancreatic cancer therapy and whether this impacts overall survival. The evidence suggests a difference in the accessibility of pancreatic cancer care to patients in rural as compared with urban Australia. While centralization of pancreatic surgery is essential to deliver high quality care to patients, it may be interfering with the ease of access of this form of care to patients in regional areas. Access to chemotherapy in regional Australia is also limited. There is need for a concerted effort to improve the overall care and uptake of medical services to patients in metropolitan and remote Australia with the overarching aim of improving survival and meaningful quality of life.

    Papers of special note have been highlighted as: • of interest

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