Cancer Australia has undertaken an analysis of MBS data on cancer-related medical services and procedures to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer.
Trends in cancer-related medical services and procedures in Australia in 2020-2022: including the potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cancer Australia has released a Report on Trends in cancer-related medical services and procedures in Australia in 2020-2022: including the potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic (PDF 1.1 MB)
The Report analysed data from Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) claims as sentinel markers of cancer care activity in 14 cancer types: breast, colorectal, lung, prostate, melanoma of the skin, stomach, kidney, pancreatic, liver, uterine, ovarian, cervical, vaginal, and vulval cancers.
The Report found that nationally there was a sustained reduction in the number of MBS claims for cancer-related diagnostic and treatment services observed during the COVID-19 pandemic, compared to that expected from pre-pandemic levels, with the greatest reduction in 2020, and remaining below expected in 2021 and 2022.
Any delays in diagnosis and treatment in response to these reductions in services may lead to more cancers being diagnosed at a later stage and poorer patient outcomes.
Substantial reductions in medical services and procedures relating to cancer investigations and treatment have been reported by service providers in Australia and internationally in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Australian Cancer Plan includes considerations of cancer care during a pandemic such as COVID-19. Pandemic preparedness requires a careful balance between the risk of exposure to, and harm from, the pandemic infection and the potential adverse impacts from disruption to cancer care.
Pandemic preparedness involves planning to strengthen prevention and surveillance, to protect the health and safety of individuals and communities from the pandemic infection, and to consider capacity of the health system and available resources to deliver care beyond the pandemic infection, including cancer care.
Evidence from the COVID-19 pandemic supports the continuation of cancer care wherever possible during a pandemic, to minimise the adverse impacts of the pandemic on cancer care.
Similar patterns of change were observed in previous publications:
- National and jurisdictional data on the impact of COVID-19 on medical services and procedures in Australia: Breast, colorectal, lung, prostate and skin cancers (PDF 2.3 MB). This report contains MBS data up to September 2020, examined nationally and by jurisdiction.
- Review of the impact of COVID-19 on medical services and procedures in Australia utilising MBS data: Lung and prostate cancers (PDF 2.9 MB). This report contains MBS data up to June 2020, examined nationally.
- Review of the impact of COVID-19 on medical services and procedures in Australia utilising MBS data: Skin, breast and colorectal cancers, and telehealth services (PDF 1 MB). This report contains MBS data up to June 2020, examined nationally.
Download the reports at:
- Trends in cancer-related medical services and procedures in Australia in 2020-2022: including the potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. (PDF 1.1 MB)
- Utilisation of telehealth services for Professional Attendances for cancer-related services January 2020 to September 2021: Nationally and by population group (PDF 3.08 MB)
- The impact of COVID-19 on cancer-related medical services and procedures in Australia in 2020: Examination of MBS claims data for 2020, nationally and by jurisdiction (PDF 1.72 MB)
- National and jurisdictional data on the impact of COVID-19 on medical services and procedures in Australia: Breast, colorectal, lung, prostate and skin cancers (PDF 2.3 MB)
- Review of the impact of COVID-19 on medical services and procedures in Australia utilising MBS data: Lung and prostate cancers (PDF 2.9 MB)
- Review of the impact of COVID-19 on medical services and procedures in Australia utilising MBS data: Skin, breast and colorectal cancers, and telehealth services (PDF 1 MB)