The purpose of the study is to assess whether the regions ensure and the Ministry of Health supports timely access to cancer services for patients that are suspected of having cancer or have been diagnosed with cancer. The report answers the following questions:
- Are the regions supporting and is the Ministry of Health following up on early detection of cancer patients in general practise?
- Are the regions ensuring and the Ministry of Health supporting compliance with the consolidated act on maximum waiting times?
- Are the regions ensuring and the Ministry of Health supporting that as many patients as possible are diagnosed and starting treatment within the targets set in the CPPs and that follow-up plans are worked out for all cancer patients, when relevant?
It is Rigsrevisionen's assessment that the regions do not to the extent necessary ensure and the Ministry of Health does not adequately support that patients, who are suspected of having cancer or have been diagnosed with cancer, have timely access to cancer services. The survival rate for cancer patients in Denmark has improved and has over the past years come closer to the survival rates recorded in Norway and Sweden. However, the regions and the ministry do not have sufficiently focus on early detection of cancer patients in general practise. Moreover, some patients are not offered diagnosis and treatment in accordance with the statutory maximum waiting times. The regions and the ministry have great focus on the CPPs, but the personal follow-up plans have not yet been fully implemented. There are regional variations in relation to early detection, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of cancer patients, which means that patients are not treated equally across the regions. The regions and the ministry's concerted action entails a risk that cancer is not detected and treated as early as possible and therefore progresses and becomes more difficult to treat.
Rigsrevisionen initiated the study in November 2017.
Read the 1st chapter of the report (PDF)