What Is Quality Cancer Care?

All cancer patients are entitled to Quality Cancer Care which means we must ensure the patient has access to the following:

• Treatment that follows national and international guidelines and evidence based standards of care
• A Care that is comprehensive and takes care to treat not only the cancer but also the side effects of the cancer treatment
• A Care that is coordinated and ensures that there is good and effective communication between all the care providers involved and the patient
• There should be a written Treatment Plan with details of Cancer Care, which include clinical trials where newer treatment options and alternatives are required and available.
• An honest discussion regarding the intent of the treatment, after taking into consideration the patient’s preference and the prognosis of the diseases
• A detailed evaluation of the psychosocial needs of the patient and how these will be taken care of

1.     Palliative care from the diagnosis of cancer to the end of life
2.     End of life care
3.     Details of their health information
4.     A Health Information system which supports and improves all of the above

Once the treatment is finished the survivor should have access to

• A treatment summary and a customised survivorship plan
• Systems to monitors the health status of the patient and the risk of second cancer development and recurrence of the cancer
• Coordinated care for the complication that may have occurred due to the treatment and the cancer
• Treatment of the second cancer and or recurrence if it occurs
• A health insurance plan which pays for treatment of the second cancer/recurrence