THE start date of the proposed National Cancer Screening Register to be developed by Telstra Health (PD 27 May 2016) has been delayed "due to the complexity of assimilating and migrating data from eight state and territory cancer registers".
Commonwealth chief medical officer, Professor Brendon Murphy, announced the postponement yesterday, saying "it is now apparent that based on the current schedule the Register will not be ready in time for the publicised commencement dates".
Previously it had been planned to launch the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program register on 20 Mar 2017, and the National Cervical Cancer Screening program by early May.
Other factors contributing to the delay include "a lengthy pause during the federal election" as well as later than expected passage of the enabling legislation.
Murphy said the Health Department and its program partners remained firmly committed to delivering the Register "as early as possible within the 2017 calendar year" with a firm timeframe remaining a key priority.
Telstra Health operates a range of e-health technology businesses including holding a 50% stake alongside the Pharmacy Guild in pharmacy dispensing software specialist Fred IT.
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