Equal Access, Equal Care Research

Make Sense are proud to present the results of our initial “Equal Access, Equal Care” research study at the 11th European Congress on Head and Neck Oncology, hosted by the European Head and Neck Society.

Be part of the dialogue for change. Are you a head and neck cancer specialist? We invite you to share your insights by participating in our survey. It takes just 1-2 minutes, and your input is vital for advancing equal access and care for all.

Join us at ECHNO to hear about the results of our research and virtual interviews with head and neck cancer specialists from several countries:

Snapshot of current findings

  • Access to high-quality head and neck cancer care is significantly influenced by available resources and geographic location within each country.
  • Insights from interviews in Central and Eastern Europe reveal a shortage of specialised radiologists and pathologists for head and neck cancer, particularly outside of specialist centres.
  • This shortage affects timely diagnosis and personalized treatment, underscoring the need for national guidelines to ensure adequate specialist numbers per hospital.
  • Regional disparities within countries complicate access to quality care, as county hospitals are often less equipped and specialised. Patients frequently face long travel times to larger cities or specialist centres.
  • In contrast, the Netherlands, our benchmark, benefits from centralisation of care, sufficient human resources and capital. This allows them to exemplify best practices by employing robust healthcare monitoring systems, ensuring high-quality care throughout the country.

Questions? Email us at [email protected]

Are you a patient or advocate?

We need your insights too! How has care and support in your country impacted you? Share your story with us by emailing [email protected] or filling in the form below. We have included some suggested prompts below.

  • Where did you go when you first noticed a symptom and what happened next? 
  • How long did you have to wait to see a specialist? 
  • How long did you have to wait between referral and diagnosis? 
  • What is your experience of treatment?
Country of residence

(e.g. patient, caregiver, HCP)