A new report by The Cancer Advocacy Coalition of Canada (CACC) recommends cancer patients, especially those living in remote areas, be allowed access to their electronic health records, so that it can be ensured they get the best treatment.

Conducting a survey on oncology clinics located over two hours from a regional cancer centre, CACC found most of them were not recording vital information using electronic health records. Of the eleven clinics CACC surveyed across the country, only seven were found to have access to an integrated health record system, and of these seven, clinic staff of only three were allowed to make notes on the records.

CACC believes such limitations compromise patient care, as oncologists responsible for treatment plans have no way of following whether the patient received proper treatment, or what complications were encountered by the patient.

Dr. William Hryniuk, lead author of the electronic record study and former chairperson of CACC, says: 'This raises the possibility that patients in these communities may not be getting the full benefits of care in terms of efficacy, safety, and efficiencies received by patients in direct proximity to regional cancer centres'.

Further, he says cancer management can get complicated, since treatment is often delivered by a large number of health care personnel located in different locations, leading to risk of errors, as in distant communities, toxic chemotherapy most often could be delivered by non-specialists.

Which is why, the CCAC is recommending all patients be allowed access to their own electronic records, for ensuring proper care.

As well, the 'Report Card on Cancer in Canada' also found several provinces with the highest incidence of cervical cancer i. e. Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan, the Yukon, New Brunswick and Alberta have restrictive programmes with a startling lower rate of HPV vaccinations, including only 55% of the female population eligible for the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.

Whereas, Quebec with the most comprehensive HPV immunization programme, includes 100% of eligible females, yet, the lowest rates of cervical cancer or to be found here. In Quebec, Grade 4 girls receive two doses of the vaccine, with a third dose administered in Grade 9. As well, any under 18-female may also receive free vaccine from their doctor.

But, the province of Manitoba does not give girls the vaccine until they are in Grade 6 and does not help older girls to get the vaccine for free, in case they missed it. This means only 32% of Manitoba's female target population gets the vaccine.

The report's authors also found funding for oral cancer medications is now in the hands of private insurers rather than public health insurance, meaning employers must bear the greater burden of the cost, forcing Canadians to pay for the medications themselves, if they do not have full-time jobs or health insurance plans. As well, ten of the 43-new drugs studied, accounted for more than 80% of total spending on all take-at-home drugs. They also found the proportion of take-at-home cancer drugs paid for by the public system was much higher than by private insurers in the western provinces, decreasing east of Manitoba and reversing again in the Maritimes.

According to the authors, private and public insurers 'have yet to come to grips with what is happening' and co-ordinate their drug coverage plans, accordingly. The only exception is Quebec, which makes supplementary drug insurance mandatory.