Europe Does It Better: Molecular Testing across a National Health Care System—The French Example

Abstract

Drug approvals for molecularly stratified tumor subgroups make molecular testing mandatory and require that molecular diagnostics be performed nationwide. To this end, the French National Cancer Institute (INCa) and the French Ministry of Health have set up a national network of 28 regional molecular genetics centers. Selective molecular tests are performed in these facilities. They are free of charge for all patients in their region, irrespective of the type of establishment in which they are receiving treatment. A specific program has also been implemented to anticipate the launch of new targeted therapies and to accelerate the time-to-access to new drugs and experimental therapies. The initiative has been operational for 5 years and has been successful in meeting its initial aims of uniform nationwide test provision and fast implementation of molecular tests for new tumor biomarkers.