NEWS Cancer care in northern Sweden has taken another important step towards an internationally recognised quality accreditation as a Comprehensive Cancer Centre (CCC). A few weeks ago, the Organisation of European Cancer Institutes (OECI) gave the green light for the next phase of the process: an on-site review visit.
Since 2025, Region Västerbotten, Umeå University and the Northern Sweden Regional Cancer Centre have worked together within a joint organisational structure to advance cancer care, cancer research and cancer education.
ImageKlas SjöbergThe site visit is an important milestone on the road to accreditation
“The site visit is an important milestone on the road to accreditation. Throughout the autumn, we will continue our preparations, and staff and managers in the relevant units will receive more information about what to expect,” says Lotta Edvinsson, Director of Umeå Comprehensive Cancer Centre.
Since autumn 2025, Region Västerbotten, Umeå University and the Northern Sweden Regional Cancer Centre have worked together within a joint organisational structure to advance cancer care, cancer research and cancer education.
At the end of July, the organisation received confirmation that it had been approved to move on to the next stage of the process towards accreditation as Umeå Comprehensive Cancer Centre (Umeå CCC). This means that OECI’s review team will conduct an on-site visit at Norrland University Hospital in December. During the visit, the reviewers will meet representatives of the organisation and gain a deeper understanding of how care, research and education are integrated within the field of cancer.
“I am immensely proud of all the staff who contribute to this extensive and important process. Achieving Comprehensive Cancer Centre status is recognition of the high quality that characterises our organisation and of the strong collaboration between care, research and education. At the same time, it opens up new opportunities for development and collaboration at the regional, national and international levels,” says Pia Näsvall, Director of Health and Medical Services at Region Västerbotten.
CCC accreditation is an internationally recognised mark of quality, demonstrating that care, research and education are well integrated and meet high standards according to European criteria. The goal is to create the best possible conditions for cancer care and cancer research, with patients at the centre.
On 9 and 10 September, information meetings will be held for all staff who would like to learn more about the accreditation process and the upcoming site visit.
9 September, 16:15-16:45
Digital meeting via Microsoft Teams
10 September, 08:30-09:00
Betula, Building 6M, Umeå University Hospital
Umeå Comprehensive Cancer Centre (Umeå CCC) is a collaboration between Region Västerbotten, Umeå University and the Northern Sweden Regional Cancer Centre. It was established in 2025. All departments at Norrland University Hospital involved in cancer care for both children and adults are part of Umeå CCC.
An accreditation process is currently underway to demonstrate that the organisation meets the highest standards in both cancer care and cancer research.
