Cancer poses a growing challenge across Europe, and cancer care access remains central to addressing it effectively. The Comparator Report on Cancer in Europe 2025, published by the Swedish Institute for Health Economics, highlights rising incidence, advancing treatments, and persistent inequities. New cases reached 3.2 million in 2022, up 58% since 1995. In this Directors Digest I examine these trends, their economic impact, and strategies to enhance care for decision-makers and healthcare professionals.

Historical Context and Current Trends

Since 2005, cancer treatment has evolved significantly. Targeted therapies emerged around the millennium, followed by immunotherapies in the 2010s. Today, precision medicine drives progress, yet disparities linger. The report notes that cancer mortality stabilised at 1.3–1.4 million annually since 2008, despite rising incidence. Ageing populations fuel this increase, with projections estimating 4.1 million cases by 2050 unless prevention improves.

Key Insights into Cancer Care

Economic Burden and Spending

Direct healthcare costs for cancer soared from £62 billion in 1995 to £146 billion in 2023. Meanwhile, indirect costs, such as lost productivity, fell from £97 billion to £82 billion. Cancer’s share of healthcare spending holds steady at 6.7%. In Sweden, hospital admissions dropped by a third since 1998, while outpatient visits doubled, cutting costs as outpatient care is cheaper.

Treatment Advances

The European Medicines Agency approved 194 new cancer drugs from 1995 to 2024. Approvals jumped from one per year in 1995–2000 to 14 annually in 2021–2024. Precision diagnostics, like next-generation sequencing, now guide nearly half of new solid tumour treatments. However, access to these tools varies widely across regions.

Access Disparities

Wealthier nations, such as Germany, reimburse most new drugs within 100 days. In contrast, Latvia and Lithuania face delays nearing 900 days, covering fewer than 20% of drugs. Per-capita spending on cancer medicines ranges from £31 in Latvia to £195 in Austria in 2023. Encouragingly, the uptake gap narrowed from 5.3-fold in 2018 to 3.3-fold in 2023.

Implications and Solutions

Uneven cancer care access strains health systems and budgets. Higher spending often links to better survival, yet efficiency matters. Sweden and Switzerland achieve similar outcomes, but Switzerland spends over twice as much per capita. Thus, optimising resources is key. Moreover, data gaps hinder policy-making; only 15 of 31 countries report five-year survival rates fully.

To address these issues, we should consider the following steps:

• Boost Data Collection: Invest in registries to track outcomes and costs, using a fraction of the £146 billion spent in 2023.
• Reduce Reimbursement Delays: Implement the EU’s Health Technology Assessment Regulation to speed up access in lagging countries.
• Enhance Precision Medicine: Subsidise advanced diagnostics in Central and Eastern Europe to level the playing field.

Conclusion

The 2025 report reveals both progress and challenges in European cancer care. Advances in treatments improve survival, yet access disparities persist. By improving cancer care access through data, policy, and investment, Europe can better manage this growing burden. Decision-makers must act now to ensure equitable, efficient care. For further details, visit EFPIA.