Preparing a European Reference Network in paediatric oncology via ExPO-r-Net

20/03/2015
ExPO-r-NeT_NewBecause access to quality care saves children’s lives
Because children and teenagers with cancer deserve the best treatment – no matter where they live
Because together, we are stronger!

ExPO-r-Net, the European Expert Paediatric Oncology Reference Network for Diagnostics and Treatment, is a pan-European project that involves a consortium of 18 main partners (and more than 60 collaborating partners). Funded by DG SANCO, ExPO-r-Net has been created in response to a European Commission call on pilot networks of cooperation, which referred to the SIOPE-led ‘Standards of Care for Children with Cancer’. The overall aim of the project is indeed to reduce the current inequalities in survival by improving the quality of the current healthcare provided across Europe, and the project will in particular address European countries with lower healthcare capabilities.

Mission​

The mission of ExPO-r-Net is to reduce current inequalities in childhood cancer survival and healthcare capabilities in different EU Member States by building a European Reference Network for Paediatric Oncology (ERN-PO) . The following goals underpin the mission of the project:
  • Linking pre-existing hubs of coordination in childhood cancer treatment and care
  • Enabling treatment of children and young people with cancer in a Member State other than the Member State of affiliation
  • Empowering patients affected by complex or rare disease to choose and be reimbursed by public and private healthcare providers across the EU
  • Improving access to high-quality healthcare for all young people and children with cancer
ExPO-r-Net will achieve its ambitions goals by:
  • Building a clear roadmap to approved expert referral sites and tumour advisory boards for healthcare providers, incorporating expertise from all over Europe and integrating all existing information to help patients access the best possible information, treatment and care.
  • Strengthening cooperation between patients, professionals and healthcare authorities (starting from the existing networks)
  • Adopting ICT/eHealth solutions facilitating movement of information and knowledge rather than patients whenever possible.
More information