Cancer care systems: Increasing burdens and existing performance gaps

sets out why it is important to study cancer care. It shows that cancer remains a major challenge in all OECD countries, not only in terms of the immense human costs, but also with respect to the financial costs to the health sector, to patients and their families and to the wider economy. It also demonstrates marked differences in survival. This suggests an urgent need to understand whether particular policy approaches are associated with better outcomes.The chapter also explains the conceptual framework used to explore this policy question. Country-level information on cancer care systems and relevant policy approaches are gathered from standardised questionnaires based on this framework and interviews with cancer experts.