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Promoting equitable cancer care: learnings from the development of the Optimal Care Pathway for people living in rural and remote areas with cancer

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Cancer care pathways outline best practice cancer care, bringing a focus on equity, and adherence is associated with better outcomes. They are often embedded in cancer international policies, providing a mechanism by which cancer and equity outcomes can be measured and achieved. In Australia, Optimal Care Pathways are nationally endorsed pathways for the delivery of quality, safe cancer care, and are a cornerstone of the Australian Cancer Plan—Australia's first national cancer control plan. This Viewpoint describes the learnings and recommendations from the development of an Optimal Care Pathway; specifically, the Optimal care pathway for people living in rural and remote areas with cancer. The development of cancer care pathways provides opportunity to ensure diversity in expertise, representation from those whom the pathway intends to serve, adoption of inclusive definitions and dedicated involvement of people with a lived experience of cancer. As cancer plans focus on equity, attention must be paid to how cancer care pathways are produced, resourced and enacted, and the recommendations presented support these equity goals.

Source: EClinicalMedicine

DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2026.104248