Action grants for inter-speciality cancer training programme

Expected results and impact
The establishment of an inter-speciality cancer training programme is expected to result in the upskilling and re-skilling of healthcare professionals in the areas of clinical oncology, surgery and radiology, and related nursing services. This action will help the Member States to improve cooperation among their cancer services, by addressing skills gaps and better equipping the health workforce with personnel trained in cancer care.

Specific mandatory deliverables and/or milestones
Number of trainees and trainers

Specific action-level indicators for reporting purposes
The applicants will include the following specific action-level indicators and related reporting activities in their proposals:
- number of training centres engaged;
- number of trainers engaged;
- number of supporting documents produced;
- number of participants to the training courses;
- satisfaction rate of participants to the training courses.

The applicants are required to include in their proposals additional specific action-level indicators which will be agreed with the HaDEA during the grant agreement preparation.

Background and policy context
An objective of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan is to build a stronger multidisciplinary cancer workforce. High-quality cancer care depends on a high-quality workforce. Patients deserve the best care possible and health professionals need support to ensure they can receive training and keep updating their skills throughout their professional lives. An ‘inter-speciality cancer training programme’ will be launched to help deliver a more skilled and mobile cancer workforce through cross-border training and information-sharing.

This action supports the implementation of the Europe’s Beating cancer Plan objective to ensure high-quality health workforce and implements the EU4Health Programme’s general objective of improving and fostering health in the Union (Article 3, point (a)) through the specific objectives defined in Article 4, points (a) and (g) of Regulation (EU) 2021/522.

Objectives pursued
The aim of this action is to update the skills of healthcare professionals and foster the development of a high-quality workforce.

This action will develop an inter-speciality cancer training programme focused on clinical oncology, surgery and radiology specialities, including their nursing services, as well as on patients’ quality of life and well-being, including mental, psychosocial and nutritional support, along with patient empowerment.

Description of the activities to be funded under this topic
Preparatory actions through meetings (5) and workshops (5) to deliver the following:
- Development of first set of curricula to be delivered for the launch of the first training in inter-speciality oncology, targeted to clinical oncology, surgery and radiology, including their respective nursing services.
- Fine-tuning of needs assessments, namely estimation of the costing needed to support per centre involved and per person trained, taking into account the number of participants in the consortium.
- Selection and preparation of the first cohort of trainees who will participate in the inter-speciality oncology training.
- Selection and preparation of the cancer centres who will support and host the first cohort of trainees.