RESEARCH led by a Belfast academic has highlighted issues in Europe's ability to tackle cancer, exposing the UK's lack of equipment and healthcare staff, and Ireland's delays in getting new medicines.
Queen's University's Professor Mark Lawler is the scientific lead of the European Cancer Pulse project - an online tool to compare cancer data across the continent.
Research from the project has been published this week in the prestigious Lancet Oncology journal, with data showing how only 12 of the 27 EU countries have an up-to-date national cancer control plan.
It has found that the UK has only 778 nurses per 100,000 inhabitants, compared to Germany's 1,395, and shows how despite having cancer and obesity rates that are among the ten highest in European countries, the UK has the second-lowest numbers of CT scanners, MRI units and radiologists.
However, the data also shows how the UK has relatively fast access to new cancer medicines, taking on average nine months to be included in public reimbursement.
This is compared to 20 months in the Republic, which has one of the longest waits in Europe, while patients in Germany can have access in around four months.
Yet the Pulse project found the Republic has a higher than average workforce of oncologists and cancer nurses.
Professor Lawlor, who is also a board member of the European Cancer Organisation, said: “How can you ever improve cancer care in a country that lacks an up-to-date national cancer plan?
"The European Cancer Pulse shines a critical light on which countries are falling behind on cancer care – and specifically how. It empowers us to use data intelligence to identify the problems, but more importantly, to do something about them.”
He added: "Our data intelligence indicates that solving these health and cancer disparities must be prioritised at a political level, both Europe-wide and nationally, in order to improve the lives of those affected by cancer.
