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Country/JA: Austria flag Austria
Action type: Program

Problem: Cancer survivors through their patient organizations shared their wish to get a medically approved version of their cancer history in a condensed form. The Austrian National Cancer Framework Program asks for implementation of a Survivorship Passport, at first for children and adolescents with a cancer diagnosis, and later for all cancer patients.

Objective: The electronic Survivorship Passport summarizes oncological diagnoses and therapies in condensed form on the basis of an oncological final report and contains individual follow-up recommendations on the basis of the therapy load.

Implementation status: Program in the planning phase


Key Contextual Factors

  • The Austrian Ministry of Health is responsible for the project, which will be financed by the Ministry and other stakeholders relevant to health care.

Key Components/Steps

  • The Austrian Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection worked with experts on the concept definition.
  • The project is now progressing on the technical programming work.
  • Dissemination to cancer survivors and practitioners is anticipated for 2023.

Main Impacts / Added Value

  • Future contacts with medical practitioners will draw on the Survivorship Passport for all the relevant information about the individual cancer disease in an easily available medically approved form.
  • The Survivorship Passport facilitates further contacts with medical practitioners and allows an assessment of the individual risk potential for possible consequences to the health of cancer survivors due to the received therapies during their cancer-illness.

Lessons Learned

  • Close cooperation with all the involved experts (from technicians to doctors and cancer survivors) is important for perspective and support for the project.
  • Early allocation of financial resources is critical to move the work along.
  • Early integration of all sectors of healthcare that will be involved during the later working process is important to identify potential challenges and barriers as early as possible.

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References and Documentation

Contact

  • Institution/organization: Austrian Ministry of Social Affairs
  • Department/lead: Health, Care and Consumer Protection, Dept. VI/A/1, Dr. Christina Dietscher
  • E-mail: Christina.dietscher@gesundheitsministerium.gv.at
  • Telephone: 0043 1 71100 644210