Novel public-private partnership contributes to the implementation of cancer control plan

We advised AstraZeneca, a global research-based biopharmaceutical company in relation to the company’s participation in a novel public-private partnership to improve lung cancer patient pathway in cooperation and thus contribute jointly to the implementation of the national cancer control plan.

New approach

National cancer control plan until year 2030 highlights the problem that cancer patients’ pathway, which starts from cancer suspicion and extends to the post-treatment period, is not addressed in its entirety, and the patient’s quality of life and satisfaction at different stages of the cancer journey are not measured. Designing patient-centred comprehensive cancer pathways is seen as a solution.

“In collaboration, the lung cancer patient’s journey will be mapped to find pain points and develop innovative solutions that better respond to the needs of the patient, ensure quality and continuity of care” said Made Bambus, chief specialist at the Department of Health System Development at the Ministry of Social Affairs.

To map the pathway, different methods are combined. The service design study puts the patient and carer at the centre and examines their experiences and needs at different stages of the journey and in moving from one stage to another, where the biggest bottlenecks of the system often appear.

First public-private partnership

Pharmaceutical companies AstraZeneca, MSD and Roche, the Ministry of Social Affairs, the Health Insurance Fund, and the Connected Health Cluster signed a consortium agreement to improve lung cancer patient pathways in cooperation and, thus, contribute jointly to the implementation of the national cancer control plan. This is extraordinary, being the first public-private partnership of this kind.

“Compared to the rapid development of health technologies, national health care systems have remained relatively unchanged and are facing serious challenges. With this new generation public-private partnership we would like to contribute to the necessary changes so that Estonian health system becomes more human-centred, services more integrated and that limited resources are used more efficiently. We aim to support the creation of innovations increasing the resilience of the health care systems that would change outcomes of cancer management for patients in Estonia,” Daniela Pavlic, Baltic country director at AstraZeneca, said, summarising the interest of companies.

Our services and client team

Our team took the lead in drafting the consortium agreement and represented AstraZeneca in negotiations with the other parties. We are continuing to advise AstraZeneca in relation to the partnership.

The client team was led by counsel Lise-Lotte Lääne, and supported by partner Kaupo Lepasepp; senior associates Olivia Kranich, Liisa Maria Kuuskmaa, Mario Sõrm and Verner Silm; and counsel Piibe Lehtsaar.