Poland's cancer-related death rate among highest in EU

The audit office said that cancer treatment in Poland was less efficient than in most other countries in the bloc.

“Poland, Hungary and Croatia are in the top three of European Union countries with the highest malignant-cancer death rate,” NIK said in a report.

“Lung and bowel cancers are the most threatening, with prostate and bladder cancers additional threats to men and breast and ovarian cancers to women,” NIK added.

The ageing population is likely to see an increase in cancer diagnoses and cancer is likely to become the main cause of death in Poland, the report said.

Some 70 percent of male cancer patients and 60 percent of female cancer patients were diagnosed after the age of 60, according to the report.

Meanwhile, the report said there are insufficient specialist cancer treatment centres in Poland.

“Of 806 hospitals which treated cancer, 98 treated 80 percent of patients,” NIK said, adding that there were medical staff shortages in Poland and healthcare spending was among the lowest in the European Union.

The report was issued amid an ongoing doctors protest.

Medical professionals have been demanding increased healthcare spending and better pay and conditions. (vb/pk)

Source: PAP