The New Zealand Association of Cancer Specialists is an association of New Zealand medical practitioners with registered specialist interests, training and expertise in cancer. Its purpose is to promote the practice of cancer medicine and increase knowledge about cancer.
Aims and Objectives
- To be a professional association of medical practitioners with appropriate registered qualifications who have completed higher training and are recognised as cancer specialists.
Seek to establish consensus of professional opinion:
- By holding regular business meetings.
- Agendas will include discussion of matters relevant to the practice of cancer medicine.
- Members are to be encouraged to raise issues to be included in the business of meetings.
- Members serving as medical expert advisers to other bodies may seek advice from the association.
- Meetings are to be structured to allow adequate time for discussion and development of consensus opinion.
To act as a reference body that informs:
- Through exchange of information between members.
- By receiving reports from members involved with other organisations whose activities affect medical practice relevant to cancer.
- By exchange of correspondence with other bodies.
- By establishing relationships with other organisations including but not limited to the following:
- Australian and New Zealand Society of Palliative Medicine
- Cancer Control Council
- Cancer Society of New Zealand
- District Health Boards
- Ministry of Health
- New Zealand Society for Oncology
- PHARMAC
- Royal Australasian College of Physicians
- Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
- Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists
- The Pharmaceutical industry
- By establishing relationships with other medical professional organisations interested in cancer.
- By recommending members for committees
Advance knowledge relevant to cancer through research:
- By encouraging members to take part in research.
- Support organisations that undertake research.
- Advocate research as an essential prerequisite for evidence based medicine and high quality clinical practice.
Disseminate knowledge relevant to cancer through education:
- By encouraging members to take part in education.
- Support organisations that undertake education.
- Advocate continuing education of members and trainees as an essential prerequisite for evidence based medicine and high quality clinical practice.
Promote high standards of cancer healthcare:
- By identifying barriers to best cancer care.
- By advising the Royal Australasian Colleges on higher training in cancer medicine.
- By advising on current and future workforce requirements for medical and other healthcare professionals.
- By advising on current and future requirements for equipment and pharmaceuticals.
- By advising on priority for introduction of new treatments and technologies.
- By advising on appropriate provision of psychosocial support and palliative care.
Inform the community about current medical professional opinion:
- Through the media.
- From time to time arrange conferences open to the public about matters of public interest.
Advocate for a high standard of care for patients with cancer:
- Through members serving on advisory committees.
- Through professional journals and the lay media.
- By informing non-medical professional consumer advocates.