Delays in patient access to diagnosis occur across Europe. According to the survey, 42% of European patients wait more than two months from their first medical appointment (specialist or primary care) to diagnosis. Delays vary between countries, and in many cases asymmetries have also been reported within the country itself.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
The experts consulted highlighted the following four main challenges in the diagnostic pathway at hospital level that may contribute to these delays: EBUS-TBNA, CT-guided needle lung biopsy, PET-CT and Molecular testing.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
significant barriers in accessing new drugs occur in some European countries,\u00a0 with Eastern European countries facing the greatest restrictions (namely Latvia, Poland and Romania).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
Access to modern radiotherapy equipment differs among countries. Not surprisingly, there is a relationship between a country’s socioeconomic status and the availability of radiotherapy equipment.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
There are tremendous disparities in the number of clinical trials taking place in each European country. According to the analysis carried out, the countries with the largest number of lung cancer trials are Switzerland, Israel, Denmark, Norway and the Netherlands. Croatia, Turkey, Germany, Greece and Bulgaria have the lowest number of trials.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
In the end, the document proposes European policies that will lead to improvements in early detection, treatment and care, with ten proposals to improve access and reduce disparities:<\/p>\n
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\u00a0Implementation of multidisciplinary tumour boards.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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\u00a0Need for broad panel testing to be adopted at national level.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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\u00a0Establishment of standardised procedures to send samples to other centers in Europe.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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\u00a0Development and accreditation of centers of excellence in lung cancer.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Development and harmonization of guidelines on lung cancer across Europe, stimulating the development of uniform national lung cancer plans.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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\u00a0Development and harmonization of \u00a0health technology assessment (HTA) pathways to foster access to new innovation in Europe and standardization of drug costs and time to reimbursement<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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\u00a0Following the ESMO Score of Clinical Benefit when deciding on reimbursement policies<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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\u00a0Development of expanded access\/compassionate access programmes in order to promote access to drugs, which have been approved by the EMA, but are not yet reimbursed.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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\u00a0Education for clinicians, advocates and people impacted by lung cancer<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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\u00a0Promotion of patient engagement and involvement in research, reimbursement, HTA and in the decision making process of new policies, at national and European level.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
With initiatives like this, we aim to move towards a Europe where all people impacted by lung cancer have access to the best diagnostic and treatment, irrespective of their geographical or socio-economic situation.<\/p>\n
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Find out more: https:\/\/www.lungcancereurope.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/LuCE-POSITION-PAPER-English.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n
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