Wednesday 1 November 2006

QUESTIONS

HEALTH - CANCER PATIENTS DATABASE

Mr FINCH - Firstly, will the State Government follow the lead of its Victorian counterpart to fund a Bio21 Molecular Medicine Informatics Model database or an equivalent system to help cancer patients in Tasmania and, secondly, will the Department of Health and Human Services help Tasmania's familial bowel cancer register which the Riverside Lions Club was instrumental in establishing by incorporating it in the Tasmanian Clinical Genetics Service and providing funding for a sophisticated computer system for a bowel cancer database?
Mr PARKINSON - I thank the honourable member for his question Mr President, there are no plans to fund a Bio21 Molecular Medicine Informatics Model database for cancer patients in Tasmania at present. The proposal for the transfer of the Familial Bowel Cancer Registry to the Tasmanian Clinical Genetics Service has been presented to the department and is currently being considered. The proposal seeks funding from the beginning of the 2007-08 financial year and funding options are part of this consideration.
The Bowel Cancer Registry currently has a database system that satisfactorily meets the needs of the service. It is understood that this system is fairly compatible with that in use in the Tasmanian Clinical Genetics Service. The proposal received by the department identifies the need for some minor costs for database conversion and equipment