The currently paper-based national bowel cancer screening program will transition to the electronic National Cancer Screening Register (NCSR) from this November, and integration with GP practice management software is also on the cards from next year.

The NCSR, designed and managed on behalf of the departments of health and human services by Telstra Health, currently handles the cervical cancer screening program, including reminding patients when they are due for a screen, providing screening histories to healthcare organisations and allowing laboratories to send test results to the register electronically.