The European Coordination Committee of the Radiological, Electromedical and Healthcare IT Industry (COCIR) has announced a large gap between how radiotherapy is currently used and its most effective deployment.
Many patients are failing to benefit from optimal treatment, and these gaps are exacerbated by shortages of high-quality equipment, a COCIR investigation found.
The first edition of the "COCIR Radiotherapy Age Profile & Density" report arose from a 2018 COCIR initiative proposing specific recommendations -- "Golden Rules" -- designed to evaluate the radiotherapy installed base and assist with procurement planning. The recommendations balance innovation as well as cost.
"Procurement of radiotherapy equipment is a long-term investment; it should be part of an overall national cancer plan, encompassing improved diagnosis, screening, and other services," COCIR Secretary General Nicole Denjoy said in a statement.
"In addition, the equipment forms only part of a holistic solution, one that also needs to encompass effective modern infrastructure and human capacity development with appropriate skills and education, as well as sustainability," she added.
