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Scorecard results

Indicator Range Score Justification

Lung cancer is a strategic priority

1 Operational,

comprehensive, up to

date national cancer

control plan

0 – 5 2  Syövän ehkäisyn, varhaisen toteamisen ja kuntoutumisen tuen kehittäminen vuosina

2014–2025 (Cancer Prevention, Early Detection and Developing Support for Rehabilitation,

2014-2025) was published by Terveyden ja Hyvinvoinnin Laitos (Department of Health and

Welfare) in 2014.^5

 There is no mention of an implementation plan or a funding source.

 A specific lung cancer control plan has not been published by the government or health

ministry.

2 Comprehensive clinical

guidelines for lung

cancer

0 – 6 5  Lung cancer guidelines were published by the Finnish Medical Society, Finnish Association

of Pulmonary Diseases and Finnish Society of Oncology in 2017.^6

 Guidelines mention diagnosis and treatment.

 Guidelines include supportive / palliative care as "palliative care aims to provide

comprehensive relief of suffering and improve the quality of life in patients who suffer

from advanced and incurable disease."

 Guidelines discuss screening, but it is not endorsed as it takes the view that lung cancer

screening does not reduce lung cancer mortality.

 Guidelines neither include nor mention shared decision-making.

Lung cancer is a public health issue

3 Tobacco control policies

and public health

measures

0 – 9 7  National objectives on tobacco control and a national agency for tobacco control exist.^7

 Finland is party to the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on

Tobacco Control (FCTC).

 Advertising is banned on national TV and radio.

 Law mandates that health warnings appear on tobacco packages.

 National smoke-free legislation exists for indoor offices and restaurants/cafes/pubs/bars.

 National smoke-free legislation does not exist for public transportation.

 No data recorded with WHO on whether a national mass media campaign ran during the

survey period (up to 2016).

4 E-cigarettes regulation

and public health

measures

0 – 4 3  Safety, quality standards and regulation are in place for e-cigarettes.

 The sale of e-cigarettes is prohibited to people under 18 years of age.

 Advertising, promotion and sponsorship ( including point-of-sale) is banned.

 Use of e-cigarettes is banned where people under 15 years of age are present and places

where smoking is prohibited, including in vehicles.

5 National policies

and programmes for

environmental exposure

control

0 – 2 2  Finland has an air pollution control plan published by the Ministry of the Environment

(2010). An energy and climate strategy published in 2017 includes actions related to air

quality published by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment of Finland.

 A radon control programme exists according to WHO.

 Recommendations for radon in dwellings in the Nordic countries (2009) provide risk

management recommendations for Finland.

6 Evidence-based

approach to lung cancer

screening

0 – 1 0  No data found to show that Finland has conducted a lung cancer screening study or trial.

7 Patient organisations

involvement in policy

development

0 – 3 1  A specific lung cancer patient organisation has not been identified in Finland.

 There is a process to involve patient organisations in Health Technology Assessments

(HTAs).

Lung cancer is a race against time

8 Suspected lung cancer

patient diagnosis within

a specific time frame

0 – 2 0  Lung cancer guidelines do not mention that suspected patients are to be fast tracked.

 Lung cancer guidelines do not mention a specific timeframe for diagnostic referral in

suspected lung cancer patients.

9 Guidelines / pathways

for rapid referral to

quality care

0 – 2 0  Lung cancer guidelines do not mention rapid referral for lung cancer patients to secondary

/ tertiary care.

 Lung cancer guidelines do not mention referral to a multidisciplinary team to guide

treatment plans.