5.C. Round table: From Policy to Practice: Advancing Cancer Control Through Cross-Country Learning and EU Action

Abstract Cancer remains one of the greatest health threats of our time. Over a quarter of the European population will be diagnosed with it and around one in ten will die from it before the age of 75. To lower the burden cancer poses, the European Commission launched Europe's Beating Cancer Plan (EBCP) in 2021, a strategic policy-driven initiative to support European Union Member States (EU-MS) in addressing cancer across the full continuum of care, from prevention and early detection to treatment and survivorship. It also aims to reduce disparities and promote equity within and between countries. This round table will present and discuss findings from two complementary EU-funded projects: the ‘Joint Action on Contribution to the Cancer Inequalities Registry to Monitor National Cancer Control Policies (OriON JA)’, undertaken by a consortium of 24 institutions across 17 countries, and ‘OBS-Learning from Progress Addressing Cancer in Europe (OBS-PACE)’ led by the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies and covering all EU-MS. Building on these findings, the workshop's objective is to zoom in on national-level experiences to tackle cancer and assess how EU-MS are implementing EBCP. First, the OriON JA will showcase a framework created to monitor the uptake of EBCP by the EU-MS. This includes results from a Delphi consultation used to build consensus on key process-based indicators, as well as outcomes from piloting the framework in three EU-MS, involving a range of stakeholder groups. A complementary presentation will dive into insights from patient workshops held during the pilot, highlighting the importance of involving patients in the monitoring process and of considering how they have experienced EBCP's relevance and impact. Following this, OBS-PACE will present a new qualitative tool developed to capture practical insights from the implementation of innovative actions in cancer research, care, and policy across the EU. Examples will be provided to demonstrate how this mechanism draws out good practices and identifies health system enablers and barriers across the full spectrum of cancer care. Highlights from cross-cutting analyses drawing on key learnings from case studies will also be unveiled. In this round table the audience will be invited to explore the rollout of large policy-focused plans like EBCP, the need for tracking what EU-MS are (not) doing in response, and the impact on diverse groups of stakeholders. By featuring exchanges on lessons learned, challenges experienced, and solutions proposed, this discussion and the session overall will provide added value for public health experts and decision-makers working in the field of cancer and beyond, including input on where to guide investment decisions in the future, and will contribute to building more effective, evidence-informed, and equitable efforts to control cancer and other non-communicable diseases at both European and national levels. Key messages • Monitoring the implementation and impact of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan requires stock-taking of national experiences with cancer control and involvement of all stakeholders, especially patients. • Sharing learnings across countries on key challenges and best practices for tackling cancer can enhance the effectiveness and equity of broader non-communicable disease control efforts. Speakers/Panellists Giada Scarpetti TU Berlin, Berlin, Germany Beatrice Durvy European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, Berlin, Germany Robbe Saesen Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium Marjetka Jelenc NIJZ, Ljubljana, Slovenia