Economist World Cancer Series Europe 2026 – event report

Summary

Europe’s cancer community gathered in Brussels for the Economist World Cancer Series Europe at a moment of growing pressure on health systems.

Rising cancer incidence, workforce shortages, constrained public finances and geopolitical uncertainty formed the backdrop to two days of discussions bringing together policymakers, clinicians, patient advocates, industry leaders and health system experts.

While topics ranged from prevention and health system resilience to artificial intelligence, medicines access and cancer inequalities, a consistent message emerged throughout the conference: Europe already possesses many of the scientific and technological tools required to improve cancer outcomes. The challenge now lies in implementation, integration and sustained investment.

For Nuclear Medicine Europe, several themes were particularly relevant. Discussions repeatedly highlighted the importance of diagnostics and imaging, the need to strengthen cancer infrastructure, the role of data and AI, and the importance of integrating different modalities across the cancer pathway. The dedicated panel on strengthening radiotherapy across Europe was especially significant, offering lessons that extend directly to nuclear medicine and molecular imaging.

Cancer care under pressure

The conference opened with discussions about the broader environment in which European cancer policy now operates. Speakers warned that cancer is increasingly competing for attention and resources against defence spending, economic pressures and demographic change. Yet participants argued that maintaining momentum behind Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan remains essential if Europe is to avoid widening inequalities and worsening outcomes.

A recurring concern was that healthcare systems continue to operate in silos. Multiple speakers argued that policymakers too often focus on individual interventions rather than viewing cancer care as a connected system. Workforce shortages, ageing populations and rising demand were identified as structural challenges requiring long-term planning rather than crisis management.

This systems-based perspective would become one of the dominant themes of the conference.

Equity remains Europe’s defining cancer challenge

One of the central questions explored during the meeting was how Europe can reduce persistent inequalities in access to screening, diagnostics and treatment. The agenda highlighted the continuing disparities that exist both between and within member states and the role of initiatives such as the Cancer Inequalities Registry in identifying and addressing these gaps.

Speakers repeatedly stressed that innovation alone will not solve Europe’s cancer burden if access remains uneven. Technologies may be available, but patients continue to experience significant differences in access depending on geography, healthcare infrastructure and workforce capacity.

This discussion has direct relevance for nuclear medicine. The expansion of advanced imaging, theranostics and personalised oncology risks creating a two-speed Europe unless workforce development, reimbursement and infrastructure planning are addressed alongside technological innovation.

Radiotherapy panel: from technology to systems thinking

The conference’s most directly relevant discussion for Nuclear Medicine Europe was the panel on strengthening radiotherapy across Europe, which brought together leaders from clinical practice, international organisations, industry and patient advocacy.

The panel was notable for moving beyond traditional debates focused solely on equipment shortages. Instead, speakers argued for a broader systems-based approach to cancer infrastructure.

Professor Mary Gospodarowicz of the University of Toronto emphasised that policymakers need to move beyond counting machines or workforce numbers and instead ensure that radiotherapy is integrated into the entire cancer ecosystem. She argued that the benefits of radiotherapy can only be realised when patients also have timely access to diagnostics, imaging, surgery, systemic therapies and supportive care.

Her intervention carried important implications for nuclear medicine. Advanced diagnostics and imaging are not standalone services; they form part of the same cancer care continuum. Gospodarowicz repeatedly linked access to high-quality radiotherapy with access to imaging and diagnosis, arguing that patients must receive the right treatment at the right time within an integrated system.

She also highlighted the importance of embedding radiotherapy within national cancer plans and ensuring that planning encompasses workforce development, medical physics, digital infrastructure, quality systems and equipment maintenance.

These themes closely mirror many of the challenges facing nuclear medicine across Europe. As theranostics and molecular imaging become increasingly important in oncology pathways, questions of workforce capacity, infrastructure planning and integration into cancer control strategies are becoming equally pressing.

Another strong message from the radiotherapy panel was that investment cannot stop at infrastructure acquisition.

Participants stressed that opening a new treatment centre should be viewed as the beginning rather than the end of the process. Long-term maintenance, workforce retention, continuing education and quality assurance all require sustained commitment.

Lisa Stevens, Director of the IAEA’s Programme of Action for Cancer Therapy (PACT), emphasised the importance of integrating radiotherapy and diagnostic imaging into wider cancer systems. The discussion around the IAEA’s Rays of Hope initiative highlighted the need for coordinated investments that support both technology deployment and long-term sustainability.

The workforce challenge featured prominently throughout the debate. Participants warned that shortages of trained professionals could become one of the greatest barriers to future progress. Retaining skilled personnel and ensuring continuing professional development were identified as critical priorities.

These concerns resonate strongly within the nuclear medicine community, where shortages of specialised physicians, physicists, radiochemists and technologists continue to constrain growth.

The growing importance of imaging and data

Another major theme across the conference was the increasing importance of data infrastructure and imaging networks.

One discussion highlighted the European Cancer Imaging Initiative, which now reportedly connects dozens of healthcare facilities across Europe to facilitate imaging collaboration and data sharing. Speakers pointed to the initiative as an example of how innovation can progress while still respecting regulatory requirements and data protection standards.

The broader message was clear: future cancer care will depend increasingly on the ability to generate, share and analyse large volumes of high-quality imaging and clinical data.

For nuclear medicine, this trend has profound implications. Molecular imaging produces highly valuable data for diagnosis, treatment selection and response monitoring. As Europe develops common approaches to cancer data infrastructure, nuclear medicine will need to play an active role in shaping standards, interoperability and governance frameworks.

AI moves from promise to implementation

AI featured prominently across multiple sessions.

Speakers described AI as one of the most significant opportunities available to healthcare systems facing workforce shortages and growing demand. Participants argued that AI should be viewed primarily as a tool to support clinicians rather than replace them. Regulatory frameworks must strike a balance between innovation and patient safety while avoiding excessive rigidity that could slow adoption.

Several discussions focused on practical implementation challenges. Speakers noted that some healthcare systems remain insufficiently digitalised to fully benefit from advanced AI tools. Significant disparities persist across Europe in terms of digital infrastructure and data readiness.

Importantly, many participants viewed healthcare data as a form of strategic infrastructure. Just as countries invest in roads, railways or energy networks, they argued that investment in health data systems is essential to support innovation, outcomes measurement and patient trust.

For nuclear medicine, where AI is increasingly being applied to image interpretation, workflow optimisation, dosimetry and treatment planning, these discussions are particularly relevant.

Patient-centred care and communication

Another notable theme was the growing emphasis on patient involvement.

Several speakers argued that healthcare innovation often remains too focused on technology and institutions rather than patient experience. Better patient engagement was presented not only as an ethical imperative but also as a practical requirement for successful implementation of innovation.

This message was echoed during the radiotherapy discussion. Darien Laird of the Global Coalition for Radiotherapy highlighted the importance of communicating value in terms that resonate with patients and policymakers rather than focusing exclusively on technical details. He argued that stronger patient advocacy and a unified voice across the radiotherapy community would be essential for securing future investment.

These lessons apply equally to nuclear medicine. As theranostics expands, patient understanding of molecular imaging and targeted radiopharmaceutical therapies will become increasingly important in shaping policy support and adoption.

Lessons for nuclear medicine

While nuclear medicine was not the central focus of the conference, many of the conclusions have direct relevance for the sector.

First, infrastructure matters. Repeatedly, speakers emphasised that advanced cancer care depends on coordinated investment in facilities, workforce, equipment and digital systems. The same logic applies to nuclear medicine services and theranostics programmes.

Second, integration matters. The strongest interventions came from speakers who argued against viewing cancer modalities in isolation. Diagnostics, imaging, radiotherapy, surgery and systemic therapies must function as interconnected parts of a broader cancer ecosystem.

Third, workforce challenges are becoming increasingly urgent. Across both radiotherapy and broader healthcare discussions, shortages of trained professionals were identified as one of Europe’s most significant constraints.

Fourth, data and AI will become increasingly central to cancer care. Success will depend not only on technological innovation but also on the creation of interoperable data infrastructures and regulatory frameworks that support safe adoption.

Finally, the conference reinforced the importance of sustained political attention. Speakers repeatedly warned that cancer cannot be allowed to lose visibility amid competing policy priorities. Continued investment in innovation, infrastructure and equitable access will be necessary if Europe is to maintain progress against cancer and deliver the benefits of emerging technologies to all patients.

For Nuclear Medicine Europe, the conference offered a clear message: the future of cancer care will depend not only on scientific breakthroughs but on Europe’s ability to build integrated systems capable of delivering them. The debates around radiotherapy, imaging, data and workforce development demonstrated that many of the challenges facing nuclear medicine are shared across the wider oncology community. Addressing them will require coordinated action, long-term planning and a continued focus on patient outcomes.

Nuclear Medicine Europe’s policy engagement in context

The themes discussed at the Economist World Cancer Series Europe closely align with Nuclear Medicine Europe’s ongoing policy work and publications. Our dosimetry position paper addresses the regulatory and clinical framework needed to ensure safe and effective therapeutic radiopharmaceutical development – directly relevant to the conference’s emphasis on evidence-based innovation and data-driven treatment. Our proposed amendments to the European Biotech Act address the clinical trial bottlenecks that Commission President von der Leyen herself identified on World Brain Tumour Day as a priority for reform. Our monthly (Members only) EU Health Policy Watch monitors the legislative and regulatory developments shaping the cancer policy environment described throughout this conference. And our interactive Hygieia tool illustrates the breadth of nuclear medicine’s contribution to cancer diagnosis and treatment across Europe. Taken together, these resources reflect Nuclear Medicine Europe’s commitment to ensuring that the nuclear medicine community is not only present in European cancer policy discussions, but actively shaping them.