Goal

The purpose of the eight comprehensive cancer centres (CCC’s) in the Netherlands is to provide cancer patients and their families access to comprehensive and high-quality care as close to home as possible. The CCC’s were set up to improve treatment, patient care and clinical research within the field of oncology. They contribute to the prevention of cancer and help to decrease the number of deaths caused by the disease.

What are comprehensive cancer centres?

Comprehensive cancer centres are partnerships between health care professionals and cancer and palliative care institutions. CCC’s are centres of knowledge and quality control that maintain an extensive network and fulfil a coordinating function within the field of oncology. Through their networks, they foster expertise and multidisciplinary cohesion in the delivery of oncological care and other associated areas. They also use their networks to support health care professionals in offering comprehensive care. Comprehensive care involves all aspects of care: medical, paramedical, psychosocial and nursing care, and is therefore by definition multidisciplinary. The services of the CCC’s are directed towards improving the professional, organisational and relational quality of care. In addition to professional groups, they also focus on patient associations, families, carers and voluntary workers. The aim is to provide care tailored to the individual patient’s needs and to ensure that the care provided by the various disciplines is well coordinated.

Organisation

Each comprehensive cancer centre has a catchment area of some five to twenty hospitals. More than 300 employees work in these centres and about 400 consultants are actively involved. CCC’s are independent, private institutions, and all hospitals, radiological centres and pathology labs are affiliated to one particular centre.

Funding

The comprehensive cancer centres are funded according to the policy regulations of the National Health Tariffs Authority on the basis of the National Health Tariffs Act. Each CCC receives a fixed annual sum for staffing, materials and location costs, and a variable amount to cover the costs of consultants and cancer registration. In addition, the comprehensive cancer centres also receive grants from various bodies including the Dutch Cancer Society (used for activities such as the support of clinical trials), the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (for developing guidelines) and from other organisations (for projects).