Across Europe, more than a quarter of the population lives in rural and remote areas. People living in these communities often face specific challenges in accessing healthcare, including shortages of health professionals, longer travel distances, limited availability of services and socioeconomic barriers.

These challenges can have a significant impact on cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, survivorship and outcomes.

Despite growing recognition of health inequalities as a major policy priority, the specific needs of rural and remote communities remain insufficiently reflected in many cancer policies and initiatives across Europe. Addressing these disparities requires stronger collaboration, greater understanding of rural contexts and tailored approaches that ensure equitable access to cancer care for all.

As part of the European Cancer Organisation’s Inequalities Network, the Rural Health Workstream brings together stakeholders from across the European cancer community and beyond to advance action on rural cancer inequalities.

The Workstream focuses on:

• Strengthening collaboration between cancer and rural health communities, including healthcare professionals, patient advocates, policymakers, researchers, health managers, civil society organisations and grassroots organisations;
• Sharing knowledge, experiences and good practices on policies and programmes addressing rural cancer inequalities;
• Expanding the evidence base and identifying priorities for research and action;
• Developing consensus-based policy recommendations to support more equitable cancer prevention, care and outcomes;
• Strengthening connections between rural health and cancer policy agendas at European and national levels.

In partnership with the Lincoln Institute for Rural and Coastal Health, the workstream is developing a collaborative platform through which stakeholders can exchange perspectives, contribute expertise and support the development of solutions to address rural cancer inequalities.

The Workstream continues to progress its activities and engagement with stakeholders interested in contributing to this area.

To connect with this workstream or find out more, please contact Sana Seddiki (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)