Karolinska awarded Comprehensive Cancer Centre

Karolinska University Hospital and Karolinska Institutet become first Swedish CCC.

The 2nd of April Karolinska University Hospital and Karolinska Institutet were accredited as the only hospital in Sweden and 20th in Europe as an Organisation of European Cancer Institutes (OECI) Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC). This decision was the result of 4 years of work towards achieving the highest standards of the OECI in quality, care, training and research. This accreditation recognises Sweden as a world leader in cancer research and ensures that CCCs work together to ensure the highest quality cancer care is shared and standardised so all european cancer patients have the same access.

In the last 4 years the Karolinska has mapped their activities to identifying strengths and opportunities towards improved cancer treatments, including organisational needs, quality systems, care, training and research capabilities. Meeting the current standards of the OECI brings Sweden into a network that not only sets the highest standards but works continuously to improve these standards of cancer care and treatment.

There are two types of OECI designation, Cancer Centre (CC) and Comprehensive Cancer Centre (CCC), distinguished by the degree of research capacity and capabilities. CC acredited facilities must provide an extensive variety of high-quality cancer diagnostics and care tailored to individual patient need as well as a culture of learning and improving the professional and organisational quality of care. CCC accredited facilities require an additional coupling to research and innovation through, high level of infrastructure, translational and clinical research and often even basic research through strong University and Research Institute links. A CCC also requires a functioning extensive international network.

The OECI was founded in 1979 with the goal of promoting collaboration between european cancer centres and institutes. The accrediation program began in 2008 and to ensure equal access to high quality care through implementation of quality systems through quality indicators/standards and peer review. Re-accreditation is required every 5th year.