The expansion of the Rapid Cancer Diagnosis Program (DRC) represents a significant step forward in oncological care in Catalonia, allowing for a response to a greater number of clinical suspicions. This improvement is framed within the new Instruction 7/25 from CatSalut, which came into force on October 6, and regulates the program's organization.
The DRC was launched in 2005 for colorectal, breast, and lung cancers, and was expanded in 2007 to include bladder and prostate cancers. With the new regulation, six new tumor locations are incorporated: gastroesophageal, pancreas, kidney, ovary, body and cervix of the uterus, and skin/melanoma.
The deployment of the new model began in the Alt Maresme and Selva Marítima area. Hospital Sant Jaume de Calella and Hospital de Blanes were the first centers to implement the new circuit in coordination with primary care, managed by the Corporació de Salut del Maresme i la Selva and the Institut Català de la Salut (ICS).
The overall objective of the DRC Program is for diagnostic confirmation and the start of treatment to occur within a period of around 30 days.
The circuit is designed to facilitate rapid access to hospital centers. Once the electronic referral is activated from primary care, the reference hospital must ensure that the assessment and the first urgent diagnostic test are carried out within a maximum period of two weeks.
