The New Designation Criteria of the OECI A&D Programme from 1 September
As initially announced at the OECI Oncology Days in Warsaw, OECI has decided to update the criteria for designation of cancer centres to a three-tiered framework. This decision follows discussions on how to best support and recognise development of comprehensive cancer care, research and education across Europe and beyond, and in countries and regions of various sizes. The updated framework will also show closer alignment with other European accreditation metrics.
As of 1 September 2026, three designation types will apply:
- OECI Cancer Centre
- OECI Comprehensive Cancer Centre
- OECI Comprehensive Cancer Centre with Research Excellence
The new designation schedule is shown below.
All centres currently designated as OECI Comprehensive Cancer Centres will be re-designated as OECI Comprehensive Cancer Centres with Research Excellence.
For centres currently designated as OECI Cancer Centres, we have reviewed the data provided in the Quantitative Questionnaire from the most recent audit to determine the appropriate designation type under the revised criteria. A comprehensive analysis has been performed, but the requirements are: at least 50 international, peer-reviewed publications, 25 interventional trials open for recruitment and 2% of new patients treated within an interventional trial.
Our policy is not to re-open any data since the last accreditation, so any re-assessment would take place at the next accreditation.
Letters will be going out to all certified centres in the month of September with their new (or retained) designations. The expiry date of the certificate will be the same as the old expiry date.
All centres currently going through the accreditation process at the moment will have the new designation criteria applied to them.
