Ministero della Salute
In accordance with the mandate assigned by the Standing Conference on the Relations between the State, the Regions and the Autonomous Provinces (September 2007) concerning Hospital Networks organization, Agenas works on cancer networks and oncological clinical pathways.
These activities are carried out with the aim to promote an in-depth accurate and careful reflection on the integration of oncological healthcare services, at local and national levels. The objective is to properly support local planning, building and management interventions and quality evaluation of cancer networks and clinical pathways, throughout the Italian Regions. Agenas achieves this goal – and related activities – by an approach characterized from patients and professionals involvement and oriented towards Continuous Quality Improvement.
Nowadays, due to the its high incidence (frequency) and prevalence, oncology is widely recognized as a priority among international and national health policies, as pointed out by recent publications from the Council of the European Union in 2008, the Ministry of Health and the OECD in 2013 among the others (read more in the section Reti e percorsi oncologici - Per approfondimenti 
LINK).
Concerning oncological healthcare services, it is essential to take into account the complexity of the patient with neoplasia, who needs systemic and multidisciplinary interventions. To this end, the main focus of Agenas activities on cancer networks is the healthcare setting. In this regard, general indications/recommendations/guidelines for healthcare services planning and management, are suggested, with the aim to enhance the clinical pathways always ensuring quality, continuity of care, and appropriateness.
According to the Standing Conference strategic objectives (2007), Agenas approach towards the above mentioned topics is to foster exchange of ideas and activities, in order to support planning, development and promotion of regional cancer networks, particularly with regards to the full integration of cancer healthcare services (especially in terms of continuity of care).
Agenas, together with the Regions and the Autonomous Provinces, is currently working on the development of tools for evaluation of oncology network, using a comprehensive approach that takes into account the perspectives of citizens and patients, professionals and healthcare organizations.
Should you have any further questions, please contact us by emailing cancernetworks@agenas.it