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Hospital del Mar Becomes One of Fourteen "EU-Designated CCCs" in Spain Recognized by EUnetCCC

This marks another step towards becoming part of a coherent European network of centres capable of translating clinical and scientific excellence into tangible benefits for patients and society. The goal is to provide more equitable care for the 2.6 million Europeans diagnosed with cancer each year, regardless of where they live.

The European Network of Comprehensive Cancer Centres (EUnetCCC) has designated fourteen Comprehensive Cancer Centres (CCCs) across Spain, representing a significant step towards more coordinated, equitable, and accessible cancer care throughout Europe. In Catalonia, the EU-Designated CCCs are Hospital del Mar and the North Catalonia Comprehensive Oncology Consortium. The other designated centres are CCC Euskadi-Basque Country, Hospital Universitario Regional de Málaga, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío in Seville, Hospital Reina Sofía in Córdoba, CICCAR of Cantabria and La Rioja, Complejo Asistencial Universitario de Salamanca, the Murcia Health Service, Hospital Universitari i Politècnic La Fe in Valencia, the Aragón Comprehensive Oncology Network, ASTUR-CCC in Asturias, the Comprehensive Cancer Centre of Galicia, and Hospital Universitario de Navarra.

This designation marks a significant milestone for cancer care in Spain and contributes to a stronger and more coordinated European cancer ecosystem. By formally connecting leading centres within a shared European framework, the initiative strengthens cooperation between national healthcare systems and promotes better coordination of cancer care, with closer links between treatment and research, as well as fairer access to high-quality oncology services across regions and countries.

The EU-Designation follows a population-based approach that respects national contexts and the organisation of healthcare systems. Rather than creating new institutions, it recognises centres-or consortia of centres-that already play a central role in organising cancer care and research for defined populations. In several countries, this has led to the development of interregional models or consortia operating under shared governance structures.

"This first group of EU-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Centres represents a fundamental step towards building a more coordinated and equitable European cancer landscape. By recognising centres that already play a structuring role at the national level and connecting them through EUnetCCC, we are laying the foundations for a lasting impact on patients across Europe," said Thomas Dubois, Head of European and International Affairs at the French National Cancer Institute and Coordinator of EUnetCCC.

Dr Joan Albanell, coordinator of the certification process at Hospital del Mar and Head of the Medical Oncology Department, highlighted that "obtaining this designation has been possible thanks to the coordinated, rigorous, and generous work of many professionals from clinical care, research and innovation, management, quality, education and training, as well as project coordination." Hospital del Mar's Chief Executive Officer, Jaume Raventós, added that "our ultimate goal is to leverage this membership to continuously improve as an institution, learning from the European network while actively contributing to its development. We want to be part of a shared space of excellence that allows us to grow while contributing our experience to strengthen the network as a whole."

What Does EU-Designation Mean in Practice?

In practice, the process begins at the national level. Centres are identified and endorsed by national health authorities, in coordination with health ministries, before applying for EU-Designation. This designation represents an initial European recognition of nationally designated Comprehensive Cancer Centres and identifies those centres that demonstrate an appropriate level of integration in cancer care and are well positioned to progress along the EUCCC certification pathway.

Applications are assessed by the Designation and Admission Committee (DAC) of the EUnetCCC Joint Action. It is important to note that EU-Designation does not constitute a quality certification or accreditation in itself.

From Designation to Long-Term Impact

EU-Designation is a starting point. Centres awarded the designation enter a structured pathway of continuous improvement and benefit from EUnetCCC activities, including:

Capacity-building initiatives to strengthen governance, organisation, and quality management.
Structured cooperation, peer learning, and support for clinical and translational research.
Tools and frameworks to improve integration and innovation, and to strengthen connections with the wider European cancer ecosystem.

This pathway enhances the maturity of centres in delivering fully integrated, high-quality cancer care to entire populations. It serves as a foundation for building a cohesive European network and contributes over time to greater equity in care for the approximately 2.6 million Europeans diagnosed with cancer every year.

For more information: https://eunetccc.eu

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