With aging populations and growing concerns around environmental factors that can cause cancer, the demand for cancer prevention and care is on the rise. More effective treatments allowing patients to live longer are a sign of success, but they also exacerbate demand for care, with many hospital units caring for cancer patients for many more years than before. In a disease whose prognosis is so dependent on timely treatment, the challenge is to deliver the right care quickly by cutting the time to diagnosis and time to treatment, while also enhancing prevention. 

In certain countries and regions this challenge proves greater than in others. Studies show that cancer patients in Western European countries have better outcomes than their counterparts in Eastern and Southern Europe. Differences can also be regional within one country. Such is the case in France, in the UK and in Spain. What are the reasons for these challenges? Can opening a dialogue between healthcare providers, patient groups and pharmaceutical companies help shorten the time to diagnosis and time to treatment? What role does each stakeholder in the healthcare ecosystem have to play?

The Financial Times in partnership with MSD to explored how stakeholders across the healthcare and life sciences sector in Europe are working to improve cancer prevention and speed up diagnosis and treatment to improve outcomes. Expert speakers will share insights into the solutions and approaches being explored and implemented within European health systems, the differences between them, and strategies for optimisation.

 Cancer diagnosis and treatment 

How can public and private stakeholders collaborate to accelerate diagnosis and treatment, while also improving prevention? 

Health authorities and providers

What are some good examples of private companies working with health authorities and health providers to level up cancer prevention and care across European countries?

Pharmaceutical industries 

What role can pharmaceutical companies play to help optimise the cancer pathway by reducing time to diagnosis and time to treatment?

Understand

The big picture, not just the individual strands of the business you work in

Connect

And build relationships with some of the biggest names in your industry

Discover

New approaches and strategies to help win market share

© Financial Times Live

FT Live and its journalism are subject to a self-regulation regime under the FT Editorial Code of Practice