IARC and the European Commission Joint Research Centre launch public consultation on the proposed general requirements of the European Quality Assurance schemes

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the European Commission (EC) Joint Research Centre (JRC) are inviting feedback on the clarity of the updated general requirements of the European Quality Assurance (QA) schemes for cancer care services.

The European QA schemes, developed within the EC initiatives on cancer screening and care, define a set of requirements for cancer care across Europe, covering the entire patient pathway, from prevention and screening to diagnosis, treatment, and supportive care. The QA schemes define a European standard of cancer care and represent the vehicle for implementing evidence-based European guideline recommendations for screening and diagnosis.

The European QA schemes are developed by multidisciplinary panels of experts, including professionals involved in cancer care, researchers, and patients.

The general requirements are applicable to all cancer care services and represent the common foundational requirements of all six QA schemes (for breast cancer, cervical cancer, colorectal cancer, gastric cancer, lung cancer, and prostate cancer). They cover the following topics: quality management, patient-centredness and information, data governance, adherence to guidelines, patient-reported outcomes, professional staff and training, and research activities.

Cancer care professionals, organizations, and individuals with experience of receiving cancer care are invited to provide feedback on the clarity of the wording and the feasibility to implement the general requirements, to help ensure that the European QA schemes are clear and understandable for health-care professionals and patients. The survey is open until 22 May 2026.

The results will assist the Expert Working Groups of the EC initiatives in improving the formulation of the general requirements ahead of their publication as part of new or updated European QA schemes.

Provide feedback via the dedicated webpage 

Visit the homepage of the European Commission web hub on cancer screening, diagnosis and care