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Country/JA: Austria flag Austria
Action type: Legal framework

Problem: The Austrian Structural Plan for Healthcare (ÖSG) determines that interdisciplinary tumor boards must be established in all hospitals that provide oncological care, while the National Cancer Framework Program stipulates, in the context of the target “setting up quality of process and results”, that the Oncology Advisory Board has to draw up a model agreement for tumor boards.

Objective: The objective is to establish mandatory framework rules of procedure for Austrian hospitals to implement interdisciplinary tumor boards according to the agreements in the ÖSG.

Implementation status: Fully implemented and ongoing


Key Contextual Factors

  • Oncology is one of the most dynamic areas of medicine, with several new, innovative drugs coming onto the market every year.
  • The treatment of cancer is usually multifactorial and includes surgery, radiotherapy and drug treatment as well as palliative care when these therapies are no longer effective.
  • The Oncology Advisory Board is an independent body that operates on a voluntary basis to advise the Minister of Health on all oncology matters.
  • As a central framework plan, the ÖSG contains guidelines for the planning of health care provision and criteria for ensuring nationwide uniform quality of care.

Key Components/Steps

  • Analysis of literature and best practice models by the Austrian Public Health Institute.
  • Discussion and definition of the content by the Oncology Advisory Board.
  • Summary and structuring of the content by the Austrian Public Health Institute.
  • Publication on the website of the Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Heath, Care and Consumer Protection.

Main Impacts / Added Value

  • The framework provides clear guidance on the medical specialties relevant for the treatment of cancer that should be represented in tumor boards.
  • The framework requires that persons constituting the tumor boards discuss and jointly determine which therapies are most suitable for the patient according to the current state of the science and the patient's individual circumstances.
  • The framework creates conditions whereby all cancer patients receive the therapies that are best for them, regardless of which doctor or hospital they are treated by.

Lessons Learned

  • The role of the Austrian Public Health Institute was key to provide the analysis of literature and of best practice models.
  • The Oncology Advisory Board as an independent body was very useful in discussing and defining the contents of the rules of procedure for tumor boards.
  • The role of the Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Heath, Care and Consumer Protection was important for the publication of the document, providing a credible location and covering publication costs.

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Contact

  • Institution/organization: GÖG/Gesundheit Österreich GmbH, Austrian Public Health Institute
  • Department/lead: Dr. Karin Eglau

  • E-mail: karin.eglau@goeg.at