Cancer health inequalities between regional and urban Australia remain despite recent progress, and ongoing commitment from state and federal governments is vital for continued narrowing of the gap, according to a Perspective published in the Medical Journal of Australia.

Rural Medical Oncologists Dr Peter Fox, and Dr Adam Boyce, called on governments at state and federal levels to "ensure equitable cancer care for all Australians, regardless of where they reside". Cancer survival rates drop the further the patient is from urban settings, as evidence over the past 20 years clearly shows, Fox and Boyce wrote.

"Over the decade to 2010, the disparity in cancer outcomes between rural and urban patients has remained unchanged with 7% higher mortality, equating to almost 9000 additional rural deaths during this period", they wrote.

"The disparity was greatest with oesophageal cancer and melanoma."

Despite the establishment of the regional cancer centre (RCC) initiative announced by the federal government in 2010, significant inequalities remain, and "novel approaches are being increasingly adopted".

Those approaches include telehealth, shared care and surgical oncology networks, Fox and Boyce wrote.

"Cooperation between state or territory and federal governments is essential to ensure appropriate recurrent funding [for RCCs]."

The authors also recommended the adoption of a national standard staffing profile for rural oncology units in order to "deliver uniform care".

"Expanding telehealth hardware infrastructure and maintaining Medicare telehealth incentives will ensure the strength of this modality."

In addition, the adoption of electronic medical records, dedicated data managers ensuring comprehensive data collection, and an increase in travel subsidies for rural patients were commitments which would help reduce the gap in cancer care, they wrote.