Management of the quality control and safety of medical activities in the field of «oncology» on the example of Western European countries

Abstract

Introduction. Quality assurance plays a pivotal role in the health industry. The countries of Western Europe demonstrate good outcomes of cancer care. The purpose of the study. This paper focuses on various backbones of quality assurance systems in oncology in Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands. Material and methods. Authors retrieved information from PubMed (Medline), Google, and public websites. The key phrases related to the organization of quality management systems for cancer care were used. About 40 informational sources were selected, including scientific articles and media. Discussion. All reviewed countries equipped with the quality management structures affecting such cancer care aspects as: •Creating regulatory acts and policy for next-generation healthcare in oncology; •Employing the top-qualified personnel; •Updating the clinical guidelines and improving medical processes; •Organizing the cyclical processes for monitoring the quality of cancer care and patient needs; •Implementing the innovations; •Implementing the principles of «transparency» in assessing the quality of cancer care. Conclusion. It seems logical to further study Western Europe’s experience in developing quality management systems for cancer care.