ACT-NOW Data Standard

Overview

The New Zealand Cancer Action Plan | Te Mahere mō te Mate Pukupuku o Aotearoa 2019-2029 provides a pathway to improve cancer outcomes for all New Zealanders with the objectives of building a system that delivers consistent and modern cancer care, equitable cancer outcomes, fewer cancers and better cancer survival, supportive care and end of life care.

The Anti-Cancer Therapy – Nationally Organised Workstreams (ACT-NOW) programme was launched in 2018 with the aim to develop a detailed database of information on patients receiving systemic anti-cancer therapy across New Zealand. ACT-NOW engages with the medical oncology, haematology, pharmacist and nursing communities to identify and reduce variation, enhance equity of access and support resource planning.

The first phase of the ACT-NOW project requires the development of national data and regimen definitions to create a solid foundation for the subsequent capture of meaningful and comparable data at the national level. Linking this project with Whakamaua – Māori Health Action Plan 2020-25 will enable Te Aho o Te Kahu to coordinate action to achieve the aims of He Korowai Oranga – Māori Health Strategy. The system for the development, maintenance and publication of regimen definitions is known as the SACT Regimen Library system (SRL) and was launched in February 2021.

The final phase includes development of this ACT-NOW data standard, which will support the establishment of a new systemic therapy national data collection and suite of analytics to guide improvements in equity, clinical quality and resource utilisation.

• ACT-NOW Data Standard: Draft for public comments (Word, 618 KB)
• ACT-NOW Data Standard: Draft for public comments (PDF, 898 KB)

This document identifies and describes the data elements that should be captured from provider electronic systems and submitted into a national collection when prescribing and treating people living with cancer using systemic anti-cancer therapy (SACT). 

This process is being carried out by Health Information Standards Organisation (HISO).

Please make your submission using the following link on the Ministry of Health’s Consultation Hub by the closing date, Friday, 31 March 2022.