Work Package 9: Support the Implementation of Comprehensive Cancer Care Networks to Ensure Comprehensive, High-Quality Cancer Care for all Patients 

Key activities

• Facilitating the implementation of CCCNs: Support the establishment of CCCNs in all EU Member States, building on the work in previous Joint Actions CanCon, iPAAC and CraNE, with a focus on quality, accessibility, cooperation and interfaces with CCCs and other stakeholders.
• Advancing high-quality care standards: Update and further develop tumour-specific Sets of Standards and Quality Indicators and develop a patient pathway repository and strengthen structured data documentation processes for Quality Indicators.
• Supporting capacity building and training: Develop and implement support tools and training instruments to facilitate setting up quality-assured CCCNs, in cooperation with WP6 and WP8.
• Conducting feasibility testing and certification: Establish up to 15 quality assured pilot CCCNs in 9 Member States and test the feasibility of the CCCN certification framework in alignment with WP5.
• Providing sustainability recommendations: Develop recommendations for the sustainable expansion and implementation of the CCCN certification framework, integrated into a broader sustainability roadmap in collaboration with WP4.

Expected outcomes

WP9 will contribute to reducing inequalities in cancer care across Europe by supporting the implementation of high-quality, tumour-specific care within local and regional networks. As a result, more patients will have access to comprehensive cancer services close to home, regardless of where they live. Strengthened partnerships and clearly defined interfaces between CCCNs and CCCs will improve care coordination, enhance data quality, and support better decision-making. Ultimately, WP9 will help ensure that patients across the EU benefit from equitable, timely, and high-quality cancer care at all stages of their disease.

Contribution to the Joint Action

WP9 contributes to the overarching aim of EUnetCCC by promoting equitable access to high-quality cancer care for all patients, across all stages of the disease. By integrating services from early detection and diagnosis to treatment, follow-up, and palliative care, CCCNs bring comprehensive care closer to patients’ homes, reducing disparities and improving outcomes. CCCNs establish structured, sustainable partnerships with CCCs and other key actors across the cancer care continuum. These coordinated interfaces are essential for achieving Flagship No. 5 of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan (EBCP), which aims that by 2030, 90% of eligible patients will benefit from high-quality diagnosis and treatment close to home. WP9 helps to turn this vision into practice.