The Joint Action ‘Enhancing digital capabilities of cancer centres in Europe to improve prevention and care’ (eCAN Plus) is a flagship EU project in digital oncology and cross-border health data exchange funded by the EU4Health programme. Its goal is to make the benefits of digital health accessible to all citizens, patients and healthcare professionals.
The initiative involves 81 organisations from 23 European countries. Together, they seek to address the increasing incidence of cancer, expected to rise by 20% by 2040. As part of this effort and building on the eCAN Joint Action’s experience (2022-2024), this project involves testing and piloting the safe and secure integration of digital tools and health data in order to improve the use and re-use of health data. The growing adoption of telemedicine tools and the European Health Data Space’s legal framework provide the foundation for implementing these mechanisms.
Through comprehensive mapping of current scenarios, training programmes, use cases, and pilots, eCAN Plus also intends to strengthen collaboration among cancer centres and enhance the digital skills of healthcare professionals. Moreover, by gathering and sharing knowledge from participating countries, eCAN Plus expects to develop recommendations and highlight best practices along the cancer care pathway, thereby improving patients’ access to effective healthcare.
Building on the work of the previous JA eCAN, the project focuses on:
- Implementing a comprehensive training program for the development of digital skills relevant to telemedicine, remote monitoring and e-health tools in the prevention context among healthcare professionals, patients, and the general public.
- Enhancing digital collaboration within and between cancer centres.
- Implementing telemedicine tools into different settings of cancer care to explore various clinical applications of these tools.
- Bolstering preparedness for the implementation of the European Health Data Space.
What is a Joint Action?
Joint Actions (JAs) are collaborative initiatives funded under the EU4Health Programme, jointly financed by the European Union and the competent health authorities of participating countries. They are designed to address shared public health priorities through coordinated action at European level, delivering results that go beyond what countries could achieve individually.
By fostering cooperation between public authorities and other mandated organisations, JAs contribute to the development and implementation of EU health policies, promote the exchange of knowledge and best practices, and strengthen collaboration across Member States. They are closely aligned with existing EU public health strategies and are intended to complement, rather than duplicate, national initiatives, ensuring a strong and lasting European added value.