The Government of the Northwest Territories has released their new Cancer Care Vision: A Living Framework for Quality and Priorities in the Northwest Territories, a new strategy to set how cancer care will be planned and coordinated over time.
This builds on the previous 2015-2025 NWT Cancer Strategy which recently ended, building on its work to improve prevention and screening, and identifying gaps in access, equity, survivorship, and palliative and end-of-life care.
Many residents of the NWT have shared similar challenges when accessing cancer care, including long travel for care, navigating complex systems, and accessing care that is respectful, culturally safe, and responsive to their needs.
“This Vision is intended to be an evolving, responsive framework for cancer care and reflects valuable information that people across the Northwest Territories have shared about their cancer experiences over the last decade,” said Minister Lesa Semmler.
The vision provides a flexible framework for improving cancer care in the territory, rather than a specific list of recommendations, allowing it to adapt and evolve to the needs of residents.
The GNWT says this new vision was shaped by engagement with many communities, including Cancer Sharing Circles, and reflects the importance of cultural safety and partnership with Indigenous governments.
The vision does not introduce any new programs or alter existing services, instead outlining how existing services should change over time.
