Improve the functioning of the regional Oncology Network and, thus, the level of care of the sick in Sicily. This is the goal of the new permanent collaboration between the Italian Association of Medical Oncology (AIOM), Senior Italia FederAnziani and the Health Department. The pact was “signed” during the new stage of the (virtual) tour that is bringing the two associations to meet all the regional health councilors from all over Italy.
PDTA and genomic testing
“In recent years, great strides have been made in terms of improving the organization of care”, says Massimiliano Spada, Regional Coordinator AIOM Sicily: “Sicilian oncology has excellent potential and this is demonstrated by the fact that many specialists and health centers are featured in national and international scientific publications “. Despite the pandemic, this year the Sicilian Oncology Network (Re.OS) has also developed four new Diagnostic Therapeutic Assistance Pathways (PTDA) for lung, ovarian, colorectal and prostate cancer, now acquired by all health facilities in the regional territory. “However, there are still many aspects on which we must work – continues Spada – such as the reimbursement of genomic tests for breast cancer”.
The emergency vaccines for fragile patients
“The most urgent emergency undoubtedly concerns the anti-Covid vaccination of onco-haematological patients”, adds Vincenzo Adamo, Coordinator of the Sicilian Oncological Network: “As a Network, we have sent a vademecum for the management of this mass immunization. We are already managing to vaccinate immunosuppressed patients struggling with serious potentially fatal diseases directly in the hospital ”.
The value of oncological networks
“The Oncological Networks must be activated and implemented throughout the Peninsula – underlines Giordano Beretta, AIOM National President:“ The advantages they entail are enormous for both patients and medical-health personnel. And also for institutions that can save important human and economic resources to be reinvested in other sectors. In particular, the Networks can ensure that virtuous link between hospital and territorial medicine which is not always present especially in some Regions. It is one of the terrible lessons we learned during the first wave of the pandemic a year ago now. Sicily has a territory where travel, even for patients, is not always easy. The Oncology Network has partially solved these problems because it can guarantee the best health service in the closest possible center for the patient ”.
The permanent table wants to represent a ‘technical’ tool at the service of the Region which will continue to have the ‘control room’ through the Sicilian Oncological Network. “Perfecting the health services of the Network must be a priority, as the number of cancer patients is destined to grow in the coming years”, concludes Roberto Messina, National President of Senior Italia FederAnziani: “In addition, Covid has greatly affected the various regional health systems, often blocking cancer tests and therapies. The time has come to make up for lost time through a better organization of our healthcare ”.