EUCanScreen – Assuring sustainable implementation of European cancer screening recommendations

Abstract The Europe's Beating Cancer Plan has called for a new EU-Supported Cancer Screening Scheme to assure high performance of cancer screening programs across all Member States (MS). The recent Council Recommendation includes additional requirements for implementation of cancer screening programs in Europe based on the most recent evidence. Joint Action EUCanScreen has been designed to address these issues. The overall goal of EUCanScreen is to reduce the burden of cancer in Europe through effective and sustainable cancer screening programs. The Specific objectives (SO) of EUCanScreen include: 1) ensuring full implementation of screening programmes for breast, cervical and colorectal cancers across the EU; 2) preparing implementation of screening programmes for lung, prostate and gastric cancers; 3) ensuring proper program governance and sustainability; 4) ensuring data collection and monitoring from screening programmes; 5) ensuring equal access to screening programmes and reducing cancer inequalities; 6) ensuring capacity building in cancer screening; 7) ensuring collaboration and coherence with related projects. Particular attention within EUCanScreen has been paid to the sustainability aspects. To achieve this, tools and guidelines for assessment of cancer screening programme sustainability and prioritization will be developed and governance models of cancer screening will be facilitated; furthermore, establishment of a sustainable European cancer screening network and engagement of Governmental Advisory Board (GAB) will get stimulated. As the result, EUCanScreen is expected to support the objectives of the Europe's Beating Cancer Plan in cancer screening and is expected to provide sustainable results beyond the lifetime of the Joint Action.