Italy’s battle with cancer continues, with new data showing that in 2023, there were 395 thousand new cases of cancer, averaging over 1,080 per day. While the number of deaths from cancer sits at around 190 thousand per year, there has been significant progress in terms of survival rates, with 60% of patients living five years after diagnosis and over one million considered definitively cured.
The key to these improvements lies in early diagnoses, which allow for more effective treatment and a greater chance of recovery. Additionally, the arrival of new therapies has played a crucial role in improving survival rates. Italy has been recognized as one of the best countries in Europe for survival and access to new drugs, with 38 of the 46 innovative anticancer molecules marketed in Europe being made available in the country.
However, one major issue remains: the lengthy wait times for patients to receive these innovative therapies. Italy has an average wait time of 419 days, exceeding a year, while other European countries such as Germany, Denmark, and Austria have significantly shorter wait times. The lengthy approval process and bureaucratic procedures at both the national and regional level are causing delays in getting these life-saving treatments to those who need them most.
Although Italy has been efficient in negotiating advantageous prices for new medicines, the process is still time-consuming. Furthermore, the existence of Regional Hospital Therapeutic Handbooks in 10 regions has added another layer of complexity and has created disparities in access to treatments based on geographic location.
To address these challenges, Italy has developed “early access” rules to allow the prescription of innovative drugs that have been approved by the European Medicines Agency but not yet reimbursed in the country. Additionally, various laws and funds have been put in place to facilitate access to new treatments, but the bureaucratic obstacles and lack of public funding for clinical trials remain significant hurdles.
Furthermore, the decrease in independent clinical trials, as well as the shortage of research personnel, highlights the need for greater investment in cancer research and clinical trials in Italy.
As Italy continues to make strides in cancer treatment and survival rates, it is crucial to address the barriers that prevent patients from accessing life-saving therapies in a timely manner. Efforts to streamline the approval and implementation process, as well as increase public funding for research, are essential in ensuring that all cancer patients have equal access to innovative and effective treatments.