2024 World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) - ePosters-EP.17A.08 Development of the First Lung Cancer Clinical Pathway in Chinese Counties

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The document outlines the development of the first clinical pathway for lung cancer (LC) in Chinese counties, spearheaded by Qing Zhou and his team. The initiative aims to address the significant burden of lung cancer in China, which has the highest incidence and mortality rates among malignancies in urban and rural areas. This pathway is part of broader efforts under the National Health Commission's "Thousand Counties Project" and "The Belt and Road Initiative," aiming to enhance cancer management capabilities in county-level hospitals.<br /><br />Three major challenges for county oncologists in treating LC are identified: managing multiple cancer types, understanding existing lung cancer guidelines, and staying updated with treatment indications and policies. To address these, a comprehensive clinical pathway was developed with input from renowned academics and county hospital specialists. This pathway reflects the practical capabilities of county hospitals, considering treatment technologies and the inclusion of medications in the National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL).<br /><br />The pathway stratifies LC treatment strategies into 'basic' and 'optional.' Basic strategies are essential standards for all county hospitals, ensuring alignment with national and international guidelines. Optional strategies provide additional flexibility based on available evidence and resources, even if not approved by China's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA).<br /><br />The framework covers a wide range of areas, including imaging diagnosis, pathological and molecular testing, various stages of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and small cell lung cancer (SCLC) treatments, ensuring comprehensive guidelines for county hospital implementations. <br /><br />This pathway marks a significant advancement in standardizing LC management in Chinese counties, aiming to improve cost-effectiveness and patient outcomes while enhancing the establishment of County-level Cancer Prevention and Treatment Centers.

Asset Subtitle

Qing Zhou

Meta Tag

Speaker Qing Zhou

Topic Global Health, Health Services, and Health Economics

Keywords

lung cancer

clinical pathway

Qing Zhou

China

Thousand Counties Project

Belt and Road Initiative

oncologists

National Reimbursement Drug List

non-small cell lung cancer

County-level Cancer Prevention