Assessing Recent Efforts to Improve Organization of Cancer Care in Poland: What Does the Evidence Tell Us?

• Published in: International journal of environmental research and public health 2022-07, Vol.19 (15), p.9369
• Main Authors: Sagan, Anna, Kowalska-Bobko, Iwona, Gałązka-Sobotka, Małgorzata, Holecki, Tomasz, Maciejczyk, Adam, McKee, Martin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ambulatory care; Cancer; COVID-19; Diagnostic tests; Hospitals; Medical referrals; Medical screening; Oncology; Patients; Physicians; Primary care; Prostate; Radiation therapy
• ISSN: 1660-4601; 1661-7827; 1660-4601
• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19159369

Poland has implemented two major organizational changes in recent years to improve cancer care. In 2015, a dedicated ‘fast pathway’ to diagnostics and treatment was implemented for patients suspected of having cancer. In 2019, the National Oncology Network began pilots in four regions of care pathways for cancer at five sites. Neither has been evaluated—no baseline information was collected, and what assessments were undertaken were limited to process measures. While the 2019 initiative was at least piloted, a national rollout has been announced even while the pilot is still ongoing and when concerns about certain aspects of the model have been raised. Given that cancer is the second largest cause of death in Poland and that cancer outcomes are worse compared to Western European averages, there is a particular need to ensure that models of care are informed by the evidence and adapted to the realities of the Polish healthcare system.