UK trails behind Europe in diagnosis, treatment and survival of cancer patients; report

A new report published today shows that the UK is trailing behind the rest of Europe in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

British patients have worse survival rates after five years - the international benchmark for measuring the quality of cancer care - compared to the European average in nine out of ten cancers – only exceeding the European Union average in melanoma. Despite the increasing burden of cancer on society, the UK spends over 20% less per person on cancer than the top five EU economie s; 20% less of its total health budget on cancer than the rest of the EU; and 10% less of its GDP on healthcare than the rest of the EU.

The report ‘Comparator report on patient access to cancer medicines in Europe revisited – a UK perspective’ was commissioned and funded by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI). Research was carried out by the Institute of Health Economics. It is available via the ABPI website.