Czech National Cancer Registry is under threat

NCR has been running since 1977 and it is unique among EU countries. Data collection - which is obligatory by law - is essential for cancer care planning and for the assessment of health care effectiveness. CSO and MZCR work jointly on the preparation of electronic data collection into NCR; however, it will take several years before the transformation of the system is fully accomplished. "At the present time, data collection, verification and storage costs approximately 10 million CZK per year. MZCR has covered these expenses up to the end of 2006," said Prof. Jiri Vorlicek, Head of the Czech Society for Oncology.

In February 2007, the MZCR concluded that NCR cost coverage was non-systematic and decided not to provide any more resources. CSO and its partners are seeking a way to ensure data collection for NOR starting from January 2008, as the whole system has begun to decline due to finance problems. "The collapse of the entire system for data collection and assessment - which is obligatory by law - would not only complicate monitoring of cancer epidemiology and negotiations with health insurance companies on health care reimbursements. It would also endanger the fusion of NCR and VZP data, which has been launched this year with MZCR and VZP support, and whose objective is to specify more precisely health care assessment and planning in individual health care facilities in the Czech Republic," explained Prof. Vorlicek. Czech Society for Oncology warns that the National Cancer Registry is under theat and feels it necessary to inform professional and lay public on the seriousness of the situation.

18. 12. 2007 Czech Society for Oncology Press Release

Back