A bill to establish a National Cancer Institute is being submitted to the Council of Ministers for approval, aiming to create an autonomous scientific body that will centrally coordinate Cyprus’ cancer policy.
The institute is expected to lead the drafting, revision and implementation of the national cancer strategy, covering prevention, diagnosis, treatment management and service quality assessment. It will also be tasked with promoting oncology research.
Under the proposed framework, the institute will participate in working groups of the National Centre for Clinical Documentation and Quality of Health Services, contribute to national clinical guidelines, and monitor implementation outcomes.
Training and public information are also core pillars: upskilling healthcare professionals, informing patients and organised stakeholders, and strengthening public awareness on prevention and early diagnosis.
The bill further foresees stronger cooperation with domestic and international bodies, universities and research centres, helping Cyprus track scientific advances and adopt modern oncology practices.
The establishment of the institute has long been a key demand from both the scientific community and patient organisations, with the central goal of ending fragmentation in cancer-related services and programmes.
