Inequalities in Cancer Prevention and Screening Across Europe

The OECD released a comprehensive analytical report examining disparities in cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment across European countries through the European Cancer Inequalities Registry. The publication analyses differences in screening uptake, early detection strategies, workforce capacity and access to innovative therapies. It highlights how socioeconomic factors, geographic location and health system organisation influence cancer outcomes and survival rates.

Towards High-Value and Equitable Cancer Care

Drawing on comparative datasets, the report identifies persistent gaps, including uneven implementation of population screening programmes and variations in patient pathways. A key focus is value based care, encouraging health systems to allocate resources toward interventions that deliver measurable improvements in outcomes and patient experience. Prevention policies such as tobacco control, vaccination and healthy lifestyle promotion are highlighted as essential tools to reduce long term disease burden. The report also calls for stronger data infrastructures, workforce investment and cross border cooperation to address inequalities and support more equitable cancer systems across Europe.

Read more: https://www.oecd.org/en/publications