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eCANPlus - Enhacing Digital Capacity of Cancer Centres in the Europe

  • Keywords: digital health, telemedicine, eHealth, teleconsultations, health data exchange
  • Project duration: 1. 5. 2025 – 30. 4. 2029
  • Leading organization in Slovenia: Institute of Oncology Ljubljana
  • Project financing: European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA) and Ministry of Health of the Republic of Slovenia
  • Project leader: Assoc. Prof. Cvetka Grašič Kuhar
  • Project website: https://ecanja.eu/; eCanPlus
Background:

Cancer is one of the most serious challenges, placing a heavy burden on society, countries' governments and health systems. In most EU Member States, it is the second leading cause of death, after cardiovascular disease. Without a decisive action, the incidence of cancer in Europe is expected to increase by one fifth by 2040, which translates to more than 5 million new cases. The growing use of telemedicine in healthcare offers a new opportunity to respond to public health crises, as we have seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objectives:

eCanPlus aims to bring the benefits of digital health to all citizens, patients and healthcare professionals, with the aim of improving cancer prevention and management across Europe. The project involves 23 EU countries and 83 key partners from public health institutions, universities, hospitals, oncology centres and patient associations.
The overall objective of this Joint Action (JA) is to build on the experience of the previous JA eCAN project and strengthen the digital capacities of oncology centres in the EU, with a particular focus on the opportunities in Eastern Europe, by:

  • implementing a comprehensive educational programme for the development of digital skills (including telemedicine, telemonitoring and eHealth tools) in a preventive context for healthcare professionals, patients and the general public;
  • promoting digital collaboration within and between cancer centres;
  • introducing telemedicine tools in different cancer treatment environments and exploring their clinical applications;
  • establishing and deploying a robust, integrated framework for remote monitoring and telemonitoring of cancer patients across Europe.

The project will develop a framework for testing and piloting digital tools in a safe and legal way, in compliance with all applicable EU regulations, with the aim of improving the use and reuse of health data for the benefit of cancer patients.

The role of the Institute of Oncology Ljubljana

The Institute of Oncology Ljubljana plays an important role in activities in the work package Capacity Building for Telemedicine. This work package focuses on the implementation of telemedicine activities in the care of cancer patients and the improvement of the eHealth capacities of European Cancer Centres. Telemedicine tools will be integrated into different stages of patient care and into different populations. They will explore various telemedicine tools and methods, such as:

  • monitoring patients via mobile applications (PROMs),
  • teleconsultations,
  • the use of case studies.
The specific objectives are:
  • implementing the clinical use of telemedicine tools in a variety of cancer care settings;
  • training patients and healthcare professionals in the use of telemedicine;
  • sharing a data management plan and protocols for cybersecurity;
  • evaluation of the results of pilot projects.

 

eCAN Plus description: 

The Joint Action ‘Enhancing digital capabilities of cancer centres in Europe to improve prevention and care’ (eCAN Plus) is a flagship EU project in digital oncology and cross-border health data exchange. Its goal is to make the benefits of digital health accessible to all citizens, patients and healthcare professionals. 

The initiative involves 81 organisations from 23 European countries. Together, they seek to address the increasing incidence of cancer, expected to rise by 20% by 2040. As part of this effort and building on the eCAN Joint Action’s experience (2022-2024), this project involves testing and piloting the safe and secure integration of digital tools and health data in order to improve the use and re-use of health data. The growing adoption of telemedicine tools and the European Health Data Space’s legal framework provide the foundation for implementing these mechanisms. 

Through comprehensive mapping of current scenarios, training programmes, use cases, and pilots, eCAN Plus also intends to strengthen collaboration among cancer centres and enhance the digital skills of healthcare professionals. Moreover, by gathering and sharing knowledge from participating countries, eCAN Plus expects to develop recommendations and highlight best practices along the cancer care pathway, thereby improving patients’ access to effective healthcare. 

 

This project started on the 1st of May of 2025 and lasts until the 30th of April of 2029. It has been cofunded by the European Union (EU4Health Programme; Grant N° 101219434). Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or HaDEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.