Back to search
Country/JA: Sweden flag Sweden
Action type: Program

Problem: A key challenge for cancer care in Sweden is the coordination of the 21 independent regions to contribute to and value the outputs of common decisions and agreements.

Objective: In close collaboration with patients and professionals the main objective of this program is to strengthen the quality of Swedish cancer care, increase access to care and reduce inequalities b due to regional,  gender or socio-economic factors

Implementation status: Program fully implemented and ongoing

Key Contextual Factors

  • The work is ongoing built on annual agreements with the Swedish government.
  • 21 independent regions in Sweden have overall responsibility and budget for the implementation of cancer care.
  • 6 regional cancer centres (RCC) have been established to support the regions in improving the quality of cancer care
  • A national node “regional cancer centres in collaboration” keep the 6 RCCs together to form a national cancer strategy.
  • The main target groups are health care professionals, health care executives and patients and their families.

Key Components/Steps

  • 2010 – the first annual agreement built on the national cancer strategy between the government and the 21 regions was accepted.
  • 2011-2012 – regional cancer centres (RCCs) were founded and provide supporting structure.
  • 2012 – development of national guidelines for cancer care initiated.
  • 2015 – development of standardized care pathways was initiated.
  • A similar structure for involvement of patients and their families was started in an early phase of the work.
  • Support for the development and improvement of national cancer quality registries is an essential part of the work by RCCs.

Main Impacts / Added Value

  • Approximately 50 national cancer care guidelines have been produced
  • 31 standardized cancer care pathways have been developed
  • Approximately 500 chemotherapy regimens have been combined in one national database
  • A national website was established that holds all knowledge support developed
  • Increased number of contact nurses in cancer care
  • Increased number of patients discussed by multi-disciplinary teams before and after treatment
  • These points are only a few examples of the value added to Swedish cancer care as a result of the national cancer strategy and RCCs.

Lessons Learned

  • The involvement of cancer care professionals and patients in all the development work done by RCCs is a key success factor.
  • The principle of making consensus decisions among six RCCs is another.

Download PDF

References and Documentation

Contact