World-Class Cancer Centre to Be Built in Parkville
A $1 billion world-class cancer centre will be built in Parkville to drive the next generation of progress in the prevention, detection and treatment of cancer.
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Joint Release
Nicola Roxon
Minister for Health and Ageing
John Brumby
Premier of Victoria
A $1 billion world-class cancer centre will be built in Parkville to drive the next generation of progress in the prevention, detection and treatment of cancer.At the University of Melbourne’s Medical Faculty today, Premier John Brumby and Federal Health and Ageing Minister Nicola Roxon said the Parkville Comprehensive Cancer Centre would speed up the discovery of new treatments, house the nation’s leading cancer researchers and provide a centre of excellence for people affected by cancer.
The centre will be jointly funded by the Commonwealth and Victorian Governments, contributing $853.2 million, with the remainder to be funded from the sale of surplus land, the private sector and philanthropic donations.
“This purpose built center will ensure Australia stays of the global forefront of cancer care,” Mr Brumby said.
“The new centre will draw together the very best in cancer research and education, but will also ensure that cancers, including rare and complex cancers, are able to be treated at the very highest standard.
“Over 100,000 new cases of cancer are diagnosed each year. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare estimates that one in three men and one in four women will be diagnosed with cancer before the age of 75.
“Investment in the Parkville Comprehensive Cancer Centre will enable Victoria and Australia to save lives and improve quality of life for thousands of people.
“This project is another example of the Victorian Government working shoulder to shoulder with the Commonwealth Government to deliver world leading health facilities.”
Ms Roxon said Australia had a leading reputation in the provision of cancer care.
“While there have been significant increases in survival rates over the last 20 years for most types of cancer, the number of new cases and deaths from cancer is steadily rising with the ageing of the population,” Ms Roxon said.
“This new facility will accelerate the development of new cancer treatments and improve cancer care for sufferers.
“Today’s investment of $426.1 million by the Rudd Government is the second investment from the Health Hospital Fund, with the Prime Minister announcing in April $100 million for Lifehouse at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.
“The Rudd Government established the Health and Hospitals Fund to support strategic investments in health,” said Ms Roxon.
Built on the former dental hospital site in the Parkville precinct, the new centre will bring leading cancer research and treatment institutes; the Peter McCallum Cancer Centre; the Ludwig Institute for cancer Research, Melbourne Health which includes the Royal Melbourne Hospital; the University of Melbourne; the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research and the Royal Women’s Hospital under one roof.
Victorian Health Minister, Daniel Andrews said this alliance would provide a unique environment for the sharing of ideas and knowledge, which will in turn translate into improved patient outcomes.
“The centre will improve patient access to clinical trials, and improve care for patients with rare tumours and others forms of cancer,” Mr Andrews said.
“It will also give young cancer specialists, researchers and medical staff first-rate training and experience – helping us develop a new generation of world class cancer experts,” Mr Andrews said.
Victorian Innovation Minister Gavin Jennings said the new facility would include 194 in-patient beds, 110 same-day treatment places and eight medi-hotel beds.
“It will have more than 30,000 square-metres of research space capable of accommodating up to 1400 researchers and a clinical trials facility with 24 treatment places,” he said.
“There will be educational and training facilities, an outpatient clinic and six radiation therapy bunkers.”
Demolition works on the site will commence in June with construction of the comprehensive cancer centre to begin in the first half of 2011. The centre is expected to be completed in by 2015.
For all media inquiries, please contact the Ministers Office on 02 6277 7220
Brumby: Fiona Macrae 0412 693182
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