Poland: Lung Cancer Country Profile
Poland performs moderately well across all five of the domains, scoring ‘high’ in the first domain on strategy, and the second
domain on public health. Poland performs moderately low in the third domain, on rapid diagnosis, because the guidelines present
neither timeframes nor fast tracking for diagnostic testing, nor is there a rapid referral pathway to secondary or tertiary care.
Poland performs only moderately in the fifth domain because while the cancer registry is highly rated, it is only regional rather
than national, and the complete vital registration is of low quality. Finally, scores in the fourth domain, on treatment, could be
improved if guidelines covered the psychological burden of lung cancer and if there was a pathway for psychological support
services and supportive and palliative care. We discuss opportunities for improvement at the end of this country profile.
The Polish President signed a bill in January 2019 creating a legal framework for the development and adoption of a National
Oncology Strategy for 2020-2030, to be updated every five years. This was in response to rising morbidity and mortality from
cancer. A specific lung cancer strategy plan was published in 2017 by the Institute of Tuberculosis and Pulmonary Disease,
Polish Group on Lung Cancer and Polish Cancer League. Overcoming the difference between the standard of care published in
guidelines and the actual care delivered to patients is an important area for action in Poland. Workshop participants noted that
lung cancer patients often receive fragmented care and long waiting periods between early symptoms and diagnosis.
Summary scorecard
Domain Austria Belgium Finland France Netherlands Norway Poland Romania Spain Sweden UKLung cancer
is a strategic
priorityH
Lung cancer
is a public
health issueH
Lung cancer
is a race
against timeML
Lung cancer
is at a
crossroadsMH
Lung cancer
is a focus for
researchM
KeyLow Moderately low Moderate Moderately high HighSponsored by