RT Essential Standards

integrating radiotherapy in cancer plans

To avoid preventable cancer-related deaths, a national cancer plan is a critical component to a country’s healthcare system. It is imperative they reduce incidence, lower mortality rates and improve the quality of life of patients. Despite 50-60% of cancer patients receiving radiotherapy during their course of treatment, radiotherapy is often neglected when cancer plans are developed. Additionally, technology in radiotherapy has rapidly evolved in the past 10 years making many cancer plans outdated.

To support global advocacy efforts aimed at improving cancer outcomes, the GCR is facilitating a discussion to create a framework of key components that should be considered when developing or updating a national cancer plan.

key components in radiotherapy plans

Review our 5 key component and submit your feedback and additional contributions. These are LIVING DOCUMENTS and not in their final form, you may see track changes from the working group leads and your feedback, submitted by selecting the button below, will be considered in the updated versions.

Training and Technical Support

Radiation oncology professionals require specific professional knowledge and skills to provide the highest quality care.

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Maintenance & Service

Regular maintenance and service of radiotherapy ensures optimal functionality, precision, and safety, maximizing the effectiveness of cancer treatment plans and minimizing potential risks to patients.

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Advocacy

Advocacy and a successful campaign plan provides an important pathway to ensure radiotherapy is a central component of any cancer plan.

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Quality & Safety

Improving outcomes for patients by optimal radiotherapy treatment can only be met when quality and safety are defined by standards relating to equipment, practice and practitioners

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Data & Monitoring

Collecting and monitoring data is an essential part of planning human capacity and capital investment strategy for replacement of equipment and expansion of the radiotherapy services.

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Key Components

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RT Essential Standards

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watch now

Watch the on-demand recording of the London Global Cancer Week Event: How to integrate radiotherapy in national cancer plans.

Project Timeline

The GCR has hosted a series of webinars to develop the framework:

Phase I Webinar

18 April 2023

Organized to create a framework of key components for developing or updating a national cancer plan while focusing on listing issues to be addressed in the framework, examining existing guides for radiotherapy planning, and began developing the high level framework.

Phase II Webinar

13 June 2023

Examined five key components that should be considered when either developing or updating a national cancer plan, with presentations made by a team of expert panelists. Defined working groups to focus on "the essentials" for each of the five key components.

Phase III Webinars

12 September 2023 and 26 September 2023

Working groups presented their findings in the research process for reaction from the broader group while discussing future strategies and components that need to be developed like AI and advance technology planning, understanding global health systems, interacting with ministries of health and governments.

Phase IV London Global Cancer Week

14 November 2023

GCR co-hosted an event at London Global Cancer Week with panelists and keynote speakers from our contributing community, discussing "how to integrate radiotherapy in cancer control plans". There is an open call to the global radiotherapy community to review the working group documents and submit feedback.