Europe is still characterised by unacceptable inequalities in cancer control. For this reason the EU as well as national states have launched several projects including Cancer Screening Programmes and National Cancer Plans. A well-conceived, well-managed national cancer control programme lowers cancer incidence and improves the life of cancer patients, no matter what resource constraints a country faces.

Find here a brief overview of countries that have announced or implemented National Cancer Plans:

• UK Cancer Plan (Year 2000, PDF), plus official documents, e.g. progress reports in 2003, plus UK Cancer Plan / Cancer Reform Strategy 2007
• French Cancer Plan (in French, PDF, Year 2006)
• The Netherlands Cancer Plan (published in 2004, PDF)
• Hungarian Cancer Plan (published in 2006, PDF)
• German Cancer Plan (in German: Launch in 2008 Press Release, FAQ. First annual review meeting on 23 June 2009: Website with all presentations). Update on 10 Feb 2010.
• Portugese Cancer Plan (in Portugese: Cancer Plan, PDF; in English: National Health Plan indicators on neoplastic diseases)
• Italy

At its ECPC Masterclass in May 2006, ECPC called on all governments in the EU to develop, implement and, where already existing, improve national cancer plans. Such plans should tackle the disease on all fronts – from prevention, screening and early detection to top-quality diagnostics and treatment and care, psychosocial and palliative care and include cancer research.

UICC Step by Step Guide for Cancer Plans

UICC has published national cancer control planning resources for non-governmental organizations. It aims to show how cancer planning actions can be prioritized and implemented for maximum impact when working towards a national cancer control programme. It addresses questions like

• What is our country's cancer picture?
• Who can help us develop and implement a cancer plan?
• What will be in our plan?
• How do we communicate and implement our plan?
• How will we know if we are successful?

Read more about the UICC Website on Cancer Control Planning here.

WHO Guide on Cancer Control

In 2005, the WHO has published a guide in response to the World Health Assembly resolution on cancer prevention and control (WHA58.22), adopted in May 2005. The resolution calls on Member States to intensify action against cancer by developing and reinforcing cancer control programmes.

Read more about the WHO Cancer Control Programme (incl a guide for more effective programmes) here.

UK Cancer Reform Strategy 2007 / UK Cancer Plan

On 3 December 2007, the UK Government launched a comprehensive five-year plan to further improve NHS cancer services. In the biggest review of cancer services since the successful Cancer Plan of 2000. The Cancer Reform Strategy builds on the progress made since the publication of the NHS Cancer Plan in 2000 and sets a clear direction for cancer services for the next five years. It shows how by 2012 the UK's cancer services can and should become among the best in the world.

The NHS Cancer Reform Strategy contains a wide-ranging package of measures to tackle cancer and improve patient care.

Key elements of the new strategy include focus on prevention, faster treatment, extended screening, fast-track drug approval and extended services for the increasing numbers of people surviving cancer.

Background

Ten years ago, figures clearly showed that the UK was well behind the rest of Europe in cancer control. In response, the UK government set out, in September 2000, its first Cancer Plan, a comprehensive programme of action linking prevention, diagnosis, treatment, care and research.

The plan has led to great improvements, including a 16% reduction in cancer mortality rate for those under 75. But the UK still has a long way to go, cancer survival is even now below the European average.

Key Measures include:

• £370m investment by 2010, including £200m investment to boost radiotherapy capacity over the next three years
• Cancer drugs to be assessed, where possible, by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) at the same time as they go through the licensing process to make them available to patients more quickly.
• Extension of the NHS breast cancer screening programme to all women aged 47 to 73 by 2012.
• Extension of the NHS bowel screening programme from 2010 to all men and women aged 70 to 75
• Greater emphasis on prevention and palliative care, including review of policy on sun beds and cigarette vending machines, particularly for those under 18.

More information: http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_081013