European women’s probability of developing breast cancer over a lifetime is approximately 1 in 8, depending on factors, including age, family history, reproductive history (such as menstrual and childbearing history), race/ethnicity, and others. To improve the quality of breast cancer services in Europe, ECIBC (European Commission Initiative on Breast Cancer) develops an European quality assurance scheme for breast cancer services supported by accreditation and referring to high-quality, evidence-based guidelines.

ECIBC is a patient-centred initiative aiming to improve and harmonize breast cancer care in Europe with the aim of contributing to reduce the burden of cancer and decreasing the avoidable differences in breast cancer incidence, prevalence, mortality and survival.

EA has signed an agreement with the European Commission, represented by the Joint Research Centre (JRC). The JRC is currently developing a European quality assurance scheme for breast cancer services underpinned by Regulation (EC) 765/2008 on accreditation, and to which EA is actively contributing.

The European QA scheme is a collection of requirements and indicators. Its implementation guarantees that compliant breast cancer services can offer users (women, patients and carers) top-quality and the most up-to-date procedures for breast cancer screening and care.

The requirements focus on the person’s needs and are based on the most up-to-date evidence-based guidelines.

This scheme describes in detail the interventions and services covered, the quality dimensions and future implementation according to the European legislation for accreditation. After it has been piloted, the European QA scheme will be available to all interested breast cancer services (hospitals, clinics, diagnostic centres, etc.) worldwide.

Manuals have been developed for each main actor involved in the European quality assurance (QA) scheme implementation process.

Scheme owner manual: this manual sets out how the QA scheme is organised, managed and maintained and how the certification process is carried out.

Breast cancer services: this manual describes all requirements of the QA scheme.

Certification bodies: this manual intends to facilitate the process for piloting of the certification body audit process of breast cancer services for the European QA scheme.

EA organised on 28 April 2022 a webinar to give an update on the European Quality Assurance Scheme that will be underpinned by accreditation for Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs) leading to accredited certification of breast cancer services and networks.

To read the presentations from the participants:

• Requirements for the accreditation in the European Quality Assurance Scheme for Breast Cancer Services – Tuija Sinervo, FINAS (Finland)
• European Commission Initiative on Breast Cancer – Annett J. Roi, European Commission, Joint Research Centre
• Implementation and practical aspects for the National Accreditation Bodies – Aliki Stathopoulou, ESYD (Greece)
• European Guidelines for Breast Cancer Screening and Diagnosis – Prof. Cecily Quinn, Vice-Chair ECIBC Guidelines Development Group
• Scheme owner view and future pilot run – Luciana Neamtiu, European Commission, Joint Research Centre

EA and JRC finalized their cooperation regarding the creation of the European guidelines on breast cancer screening and diagnosis. The guidelines present the latest evidence available in the form of recommendations and good practice statements intended to optimize patient care. These are developed starting from relevant ‘healthcare questions’ that are grouped into main topics and presented in a question-and-answer format.

For further information:

https://healthcare-quality.jrc.ec.europa.eu/

https://healthcare-quality.jrc.ec.europa.eu/breast-quality-assurance-scheme/manuals